From the Readers

Shoulder the responsibility of taking care of the elderly

(chinadaily.com.cn)
Updated: 2010-06-22 14:29

Comment on "Treat old people as assets, which they are" (China Daily, June 22)

Today's child is tomorrow's senior citizen. It is life's evolution, the short journey of a person's lifespan on earth. Every living organism goes through the same process. There is birth, there is death. Nothing escapes.

An infant is just as helpless as an old person may be. All things being equal, a child takes longer to become capable of taking care of himself, while an old person only becomes incapable mainly due to health reasons. If he is in good health, he is most likely still capable and useful if not self-sufficient. Surveys tell us most elderly people suffer from health problems in their advanced age.

In China, from ancient times until now, children are raised inculcating the Chinese value of filial duty, which calls on growing children to take care of their aging parents. This is a very important value that Chinese people must never ever forget. It is for the simple reason that today's child is tomorrow's senior citizen. He is someone's son today, and he will be someone's father tomorrow. As a child he has his parents to care for him, but as he matures and can help himself he has a duty to care for his aging parents. Like he had taken care of his aging parents, he too would like his child to take care of him when he ages and becomes helpless. So the period between both ends of being helpless is the useful and purposeful life period. It is the same for everyone.

Like individuals, a country is only responsible if it takes care of the elderly, who have all been useful to family and to country at one stage or another. If one does not to have a child, then one depends on the State to help, and the State should come to the rescue. When states treat their old people as assets, they are showing great care and responsibility.

In reality, old people can still be useful to society so long as they are reasonably healthy. Some not only take care of their own children, they also help take care of their grandchildren. They can still perform light duties and because of experience they can be quite effective, too. As long as they have shelter over their heads and enough food, they would in most cases be a happy lot. They do not need too much.

For the unfortunate, the government would need to build homes to provide shelter, health care and of course other amenities to provide basic needs.

Good governments will never neglect this responsibility to their senior citizens. It must facilitate harmonious living to people in all stages of life. More effort should be made to help the needy and the helpless.

HsunTze on China Daily website.