There was a recent article about a couple charged with elder abusein Toronto which got me thinking. There is no doubt that it is a problem within our desi/Pakistani community as well. The incidents may be isolated, but it nevertheless exists.
Would you speak up if you knew someone was abusing an elderly family member? The abuse could be: inadequate housing, making them work in the household despite ailing health, not supporting them financially or even taking their pay/government benefits from them, physical or emotional abuse. And how far would you go? Report the adult children to the police? Provide a haven to the victim?
Adult children have no legal responsibility to support, or even be nice to their elders. That said, taking their benefits money, or abusing them physically is against the law and I'd report it immediately. Emotional abuse, asking them to work, or giving them inadequate housing are all grey areas, all we can do as outsiders is donate money to move them to a nursing center (short term solution), or if we're ambitious enough, protest the government to use tax money to spot cases of elder abuse and support elderly better (long term solution).
wow!
I used to work for a bank and this reallly really old lady, widowed used to come in with her paychecks.. she didnt know how to speak english so she came to me as I can speak punjabi and she would tell me about how her son asks her for her pension checks and her husbands pension checks. She would ask me to fill out the envelopes and mail them for her. what she said about this was beyond me.. apparently the son was like.. your old and the money will do u no good so just send it to me.. I wish I had reported it then.. this was like 6 yrs ago and I have no idea how or where tht poor lady is now! Still makes me think about it!! :(
I was disgusted after hearing that news on radio. On top of it, there were 2 empty rooms in the house that couple did not let the mom use instead they threw her to garage.
Adult children have no legal responsibility to support, or even be nice to their elders. That said, taking their benefits money, or abusing them physically is against the law and I'd report it immediately. Emotional abuse, asking them to work, or giving them inadequate housing are all grey areas, all we can do as outsiders is donate money to move them to a nursing center (short term solution), or if we're ambitious enough, protest the government to use tax money to spot cases of elder abuse and support elderly better (long term solution).
Since you have not argued about moral responsibility and only legal one, I'll reply in same language
Sorry to burst your bubble but more than 20 US states have filial responsibility statutes that establish a duty for adult children to care for their indigent elderly parents. When enforced, the statutes can require the adult child to reimburse state programs or institutions that have cared for the indigent parent with either a one-time contribution or installment payments.
Such people are scum. I find it disturbing when children or even randoms abuse or disrespect elders. Its a shame what some seniors go through after having dedicated their entire lives to their children. Screw the legality, adults need to be taken care of. End of.
I was disgusted after hearing that news on radio. On top of it, there were 2 empty rooms in the house that couple did not let the mom use instead they threw her to garage.
Since you have not argued about moral responsibility and only legal one, I'll reply in same language
Sorry to burst your bubble but more than 20 US states have filial responsibility statutes that establish a duty for adult children to care for their indigent elderly parents. When enforced, the statutes can require the adult child to reimburse state programs or institutions that have cared for the indigent parent with either a one-time contribution or installment payments.
Rats. You got me. stops harassing elderly parent
Unfortunately, these laws are rarely enforced, certainly much rarer than child protective services. I live in the home state of all the elderly people in the universe (Florida) and we have no such law here.
Such people are scum. I find it disturbing when children or even randoms abuse or disrespect elders. Its a shame what some seniors go through after having dedicated their entire lives to their children. Screw the legality, adults need to be taken care of. End of.
Word. People who try to shirk this responsibility are screwed in the head.
For sure I would speak up… most elders in my community look to me anyway if thier kids mistreat them Offcourse I dont like to meddle in others lives but when the younger generation tortures thier elders I love to be the elders henchman… :faris:
My uncles and aunts pretty much call me every other week to sort out one of thier errant young lads and all I do is pay the chap a visit, simply to warn him to listen to his parents otherwise he will be in trouble.
This winter I stopped a lad killing his friend over some silly dispute over a girl or something, I simply approached him and persuaded him that it was no way to go and that if he left his house with a knife I could put him behind bars for five years minimum… Thankfully the kid came to his senses.
It’s better sometimes for the community to sort petty issues out before they become serious. Neglecting or abusing elders might not be as serious on the outside but it’s a major issue and even in care homes theres no garuntee.
Adult children have no legal responsibility to support, or even be nice to their elders. That said, taking their benefits money, or abusing them physically is against the law and I'd report it immediately. Emotional abuse, asking them to work, or giving them inadequate housing are all grey areas, all we can do as outsiders is donate money to move them to a nursing center (short term solution), or if we're ambitious enough, protest the government to use tax money to spot cases of elder abuse and support elderly better (long term solution).
I guess Sehrysh's post is about the parents or guardians who actually take advantage and push kids to do work for them or do as they are instructed etc...
Sending your elders to nursery or not being nice to them in general is not approriate... this is called values.
However if people are absued and pushed to do things then yeah that needs to be sorted but i guess it would be determined on case by case basis ... we cant just generalized things... so yeah it should be brought up and reported and sorted out...
Offcourse I dont like to meddle in others lives but when the younger generation tortures thier elders I love to be the elders henchman… :faris: