Seniors in your country?
By bubulizzz
@bubulizzz (508)
Latvia
July 3, 2010 3:34am CST
In last few years I pay attention to seniors in my country and this sight is very sadly and become more tragically....
I have heard and seen many seniors form other countries - they have lived their lives working hardly and earning money for their families and then when the old age comes to them, they can to retire and enjoy the rest time of their life. The government pays them pension and this money amount is normal that they can not only to pay their rent and buy everything for their living, but also they have money enough that they can go in excursions, can ride to other countries and to do other interesting things.
But in my country the situation is almost opposite - when human go in his condign retire he becomes dependent from his family, because the pension which government pays is so small that people can't to buy even food for them selfs.
If senior's family is well assured then it's ok, but if the senior have no anyone?
They have worked all their lives for country, but when they can't to work more because of their age, only what they get is zero.
Looking to this situation seems that government what their country without seniors, because they don't reward older people and makes their lives not worth living. When man reaches the old age, better what he can do is to end his life himself, because its not a living but trying to survive.
So I wanted to know - is similar situation in other countries or in your place is some respect to seniors?
3 people like this
5 responses
@eddiechoohn (340)
• Malaysia
3 Jul 10
I live in asia, where since young we were instill with values and mindsets of taking care of our old parents when they get old. However, the situation has changed since the few decades because people have been affected by the thinkings of the west where individuality and independency is highly look upon to. This results in more and more senior citizens are sent to old fold's home regardless they have children or not. There are even cases where people who are capable of taking care of their old parents refused to do it due to the tedious chores and decided to send the old people to a centre and paid money so that someone will take care of their old. However, the cases that i stated above were still a small portion compared to how normally people in the asia treat their old parents.
1 person likes this
@bubulizzz (508)
• Latvia
3 Jul 10
Do you know what situation is there in these old people's homes?
In my place the situation is very similar and the life in such place is terrible - their money which they get for government and from family is taken away, they have very poor food and very bad conditions because these houses is old and they haven't repaired for many years.
The criminal persons is always around these homes and waiting for seniors to take anything what they have. The government don't pay attention to this situation and such a life for them is something like a hell.
@eddiechoohn (340)
• Malaysia
3 Jul 10
I am not really sure on how situations really are at the old folk's home. But i have a friend who have visited a centre, where old people are forced to stay together with children and teenagers with mental disorders until a certain degree where the old people's mind is affected too. Normally, the old folk's home receive more visitors during the festival season. Organisations and individuals will make visits to them, providing basic needs and sometimes giving them a small amount of money to the old people. Sometimes, the organisations will prepare performance or they will just sit by the old people to chat with them.However, i have seen on papers where the old people complained that the centre's administration staff will take away the money that the public gave to the old, claiming that it is to upgrade the facilities of the centre.
Its hard to believe that criminals still rob houses of old people in your place, maybe it is due the fact that they are unable to defend themselves thus making the robbers and burglar's job to be easier.
@Hatley (163776)
• Garden Grove, California
4 Jul 10
hi bubulizzz well I am in the USA and its not quite a s wonderful as you have stated about us old people getting paid so much we can go to other countries, I get social security and ssi and they take almost all of it for me to live in this retirement home. I have one hundred twenty five dollars for person use a month now I cannot travel very far on that.
Maybe wealthy people have big enough social security to do that but a lot of people are like me we did not have top bucks jobs.Oh I get enough so I have a place for now to eat and sleep but I wo uld rather my son was working and I was in an ap artmentwith him again. he just got a job so we may be able to get into an apartment again sometime this year.But I am still very grateful for what I do get and have hopes of better to come in this year later.
@Hatley (163776)
• Garden Grove, California
5 Jul 10
hi bubulizzz no I sure do not but I have no idea of how to remedy
the situation as its been going on forever and ever.Perhaps our new president will make some well needed changes for us older people too.
@bubulizzz (508)
• Latvia
4 Jul 10
Do you think that is fair that seniors have worked to their age and now they have become needless to their country?
1 person likes this
@Cutie18f (9546)
• Philippines
3 Jul 10
Exactly the same situation as what you mentioned. Our senior citizens here live in poor condition because the monthly pension is too small for them to survive. They need the charity of other people in order for them to make it day to day, which is so sad because our senior citizens are the very people who need the biggest help from government but it seems like government does not care enough for them.
@bubulizzz (508)
• Latvia
4 Jul 10
It is really terrible! Especially if we think about one's own future. For now my view is that better to die before the pension age comes!
@akhileshnigam (494)
• India
6 Jul 10
in india old aged policy are dismal,we are running towards west culture,they are running towards east.
@sable9 (15)
• Australia
4 Jul 10
I think this is so sad and so common in many countries! Where has the respect gone for our elders. It seems that when they are of no use anymore, they are discarded and often abused. The world is changing for the worse, it's all about money!! I think it is disgraceful how seniors are treated by the governments and often by their own families too.
@bubulizzz (508)
• Latvia
4 Jul 10
Yes, it's hard to hear that...so many peoples have lived their lives working for their country, they had been the base for that what the country is now. But government don't think so, or they don't appreciate it and it is so egoistic! They think that their future will be better because they have good work places and smash wage, but do the government after 30 years will not think similarly. I think that people in government must think a little more about their citizens and little less about their own reward.
