It is considered by some that the responsibility of care towards elderly people is borne by governing authorities while others believe family members ought to be saddled with the responsibility.
On the one hand, some believe the government ought to be the primary carers of elderly people in a given society because the state in several countries have huge financial wealth at their beck and call.Therefore, these funds can be disbursed towards securing the welfare of elderly citizens in a country. Another reason why governments are held accountable is that elderly people ought to be rewarded for their loyalty and patriotism towards their nation in previous years. These older citizens were once the vibrant workforce of the nation having served in various capacities. Their years of labour and service ought to be duly recognised by the authorities.
On the other hand, it is thought by some that family members should provide care . Firstly, aged people at generally happier when surrounded by their children or close relatives who can offer support and care consistently. This is especially the case for aging and vulnerable people who are likely to be dependent on other people for daily activities. Secondly , when adult children who are already parents themselves care for their dependent relatives, they are demonstrating good moral and family values to the younger generation. Hence, the young ones not only grow and imbibe positive attitudes but are also likely to reciprocate these kind gestures in the near future. Thus, a better, loving and more cohesive society is being built.
Finally, in my view, the primary responsibility of an aged person ought to lie with the family members, the exception being an elderly person who is a destitute or childless. These categories of people can depend solely on the state.
In conclusion, while people may vary in their opinions, elderly people should be catered for by family members in nearly all circumstances except in unusual cases.