Some people support the idea that grandparents should reside with their children and grandchildren, while others argue that they should live independently. In my opinion, elderly people should live with their family, because this will highlight the value of family ties in the younger generation, and strengthen the family bond.
On the one hand, living together with the family is beneficial for the individual’s health. Moreover, studies have shown that living with a family reduces the rates of Alzheimer’s disease. This is because living with family implies playing lots of games, and some of which help memory, such as puzzle games. For example, a survey conducted by the University of California found that elderly people who played memory games with their grandchildren had a 40% lower risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease than those who lived alone.
However, living independently has more drawbacks than advantages. For instance, if elderly people live independently, they might feel lonely and isolated. Therefore, this will affect their physical health and well-being. Furthermore, living independently decreases their chances of receiving the support and the aid that they might need. Indeed, encouraging independence will make a positive mental impact on them, but being closer to family is important as well. For instance, there was a tragic story about an old man who had been dead for 10 years before his neighbours found out because he lived alone with no one to look after him.
In my opinion, I definitely agree that grandparents should reside in close proximity with their family. This is because it is considered as quality time, which in turn strengthens family bonding and connection, and highlights the value of family ties in the grandchildren.
In conclusion, while some are calling for elderly independence, others are not agreed with this approach. In my opinion, the concept of family unity should be adopted to live a healthy life.