The average
life
span has increased a
lot
in these
last
few decades and the welfare of old people is a topic
that is
often discussed. Some people argue that should be the
government
to take
care
of their needs while others believe
that is
a primary responsibility of the family. In
this
essay I will explain the reasons why is important that either the family and the institutions should take
care
of elders.
To begin
with, guarantee a decent level of
life
for the old people is a duty that the
government
should pursue and finance. Old people worked a
lot
during their
life
and payed taxes with their job to guarantee an efficient level of public services for everyone. At the moment of retirement, the
government
should provide them a financial help to carry on their
life
as it was before.
In addition
, money should be placed in services for elders
such
as aged
care
facilities that can help the individual and his family in a moment of illness. Let's take
for example
my home country. Italy has a
lot
of old people and their needs are a priority for the
government
. A
lot
of politicians invest their political career to fight for the elderly rights and to give them a good level of
life
and resources.
In the complex journey of ageing, the family plays a vital role. As the parents look after their child when they were little, in the same way sons and daughters should
care
about their parents when they are old. Being looked after from a family member in the family house
instead
of a stranger in a nursing home is without any doubt much better for the individual itself. As old people tend to be disorientated if placed in a different environment with a person that they don't know, supporting the family in the
care
of their older loved ones is a priority.
Furthermore
, keeping people out of aged
care
facilities would save money to the
government
.
For instance
, my grandmother was recently hospitalized and when she was discharged my parents took
care
of her in our house
instead
of sending her in a facility for her rehabilitation. Being in a familiar environment meant a
lot
for her and she recovered very quickly.
To sum up, it is a
government
responsibility to look after the ageing people of the society, but at the same time the family is an irreplaceable resource. I personally believe that a synergy between the family and public services is the perfect way to look after a person. On one side the family needs money and tools to do that, on the other the
government
has to provide them with the services that they need.