International Day of Older persons is observed on 01st of the month of October every year. We should respect the people of previous generations. Now, most of us ignore our parents during their old age which is infact a second childhood for them.
I agree, in fact I and my wife took best care of our respective parents along with our siblings. I am so sorry to see some people do not look after their parents when they need it most.
During our childhood, we asked many silly questions and repeated the same questions. Our parents replied politely. But now we simply tell our parents that they do not know about anything. We do not give them opportunity to interact with us to share their life experiences.
Elders should be protected and looked after. But there is responsibility on the elders also. They should study and understand the conditions especially quick and ever changing times. They should understand that their children have to race along with the times. And to this extent, older parents should know that their children are not looking after them intentionally.
I have seen several advertisements for the homes for tha aged. Most of the people spent a lot for their parents as their parents reside in the home for the aged. Parents do not expect money from their parents. They want their heirs to spend time with them. They need love, affection and caring.
Of course love and affection are expected by the parents especially during old age from their children. But in these hard days, it becomes essential for the children to work day and night to maintain the family. In such conditions it may not be possible for the children to be present physically to be with their parents. It's here parents should understand that their children's absence is not intentional. I have seen many old people cooperating with their children to maintain peace and harmony in the family.
Some aged people go a step further. They try to support their children who in present day atmosphere are forced to work day and night to keep themselves with the society. To help them remain ahead, the older generation go all out to stand with them to keep them in the race. Yet some children do not understand their sacrifice which perhaps is the worst situation.
That's the point Sunil. Let me tell the routine of an 80 year old senior citizen in my neighbourhood. He's very health conscious. Gets up at 4 am.Does yoga for 39 minutes, While his daughter-in-law, son and his children still in bed, the old man quietely slips out without disturbing of the sleeping family members. During his morning walk, he collects flowers for his DIL's puja. Buys vegetables for the day. and enters his house. By that time, DIL gets up and keeps her FIL's favourite steaming cup of coffee.. And his son comes out with the morning news paper and places in the hands of the old man. His son, a busy software engineer, gets ready and leaves for his work spot.
The old man after his coffee goes to the computer and immerses himself in article writing for a web site without disturbing anybody. By that time his grand children are ready for school. The old man happily takes them to the bus stand and sees them off.
This can be done by a senior citizen with a little bit of planning and thinking. Such senior citizens can never be a a burden to the family .Rather they are the most loved to the entire family