How many of you think that elderly women live comfortably after their husband’s death? What challenges have you seen these ladies face? It’s all and well if the lady’s son is a doctor, but what about other situations where maybe the son isn’t making much, or refuses to keep his mom, or she has no sons, or she is widow’ed when her kids are not yet working and now she has to run a household on her own?
I’m talking about case scenarios where she is not working, like most Pakistani women who choose to sit at home when they get married.
What are the societal consequences of that as they age?
My dad has set aside money for my mom, and I think he has a life insurance policy too. Is this something common with desis? Do they set money aside for that day when they die and the wife needs to survive on her own, God forbid?
Yes many older women become dependent on their children and other relatives. But this trend is changing.
To have her enjoy secured life,
Not only life insurance but some other real means should be used from beginning like:
Cash saving, real Estate, leave a house for her and arrange for pension...if at all possible.
Children who can afford should pitch in as they can even if they are married.
She on her own should also think of future and there are many who I know like to live on their own and do either teaching, baby sitting or sewing/making clothes at home for women and children etc.
Besides that, her social activity is also important and if she cannot drive, that becomes a problem. But in general families do help these women a lot...
Majority have property left over for the next of kin. Most desi families have big families so im sure there would always be people to help out. If not... God knows.. she would have to run the household somehow by her self.
Parents should always keep something aside for theirselves, for their oldage. Just to be on safe side, not that kids wont provide but u never know .. u know :(
Good question PCG. I think we need to start saving for our future even at this age. What guarantee do we have that our kids will look after us in our old age? It's their life, they will live it the way they want to. I personally don't expect my children to look after me when I'm elderly.
I firmly believe in starting to save early for yourself and your spouse. If God forbid, your spouse passes on, at least you have savings that you can work with until you find a job, or at least afford your own expenses if you are past the age of retirement.
Even if you are a housewife, and don't work outside, it's something that the couple needs to talk about and figure out how they are going to support themsevles in their old age.
well a very good question indeed, Well in all honesty all husbands should be conscious of the fact the when they are not around what happens to their wives. My dad openly says key he doesnt want mom to depend on us (Even though we are 3 sons) and we live in a relatively clos knit family so there is no question of leaving mom and dad but he still says key she should depend on us and thus has an insurance policy and all the real estate he purchases either here or in pakistan is in Mom`s name in most cases and in some its on both their names and i hope to do the same someday :k:
Yup, my Nana Abu had been saving all his life and when he passed away he had left the money in such a way that my Nano can live out her life comfortably without help (although she gets it obviously regardless) by getting money weekly from his saved account which is enough for the next x amount of years or how many years it will be inshAllah :)
Its different everywhere depending on the culture.
In Pakistan, its a payback time for what she has done whole of her life and normally they are taken care off by good hands.
In west where life is fast, dog-eat-dog world, where stopping by even at Parents's door step without first calling them is almost a crime, elderly peope got to save a LOT for these days.
How many of you think that elderly women live comfortably after their husband's death? What challenges have you seen these ladies face? It's all and well if the lady's son is a doctor, but what about other situations where maybe the son isn't making much, or refuses to keep his mom, or she has no sons, or she is widow'ed when her kids are not yet working and now she has to run a household on her own?
I'm talking about case scenarios where she is not working, like most Pakistani women who choose to sit at home when they get married.
What are the societal consequences of that as they age?
My dad has set aside money for my mom, and I think he has a life insurance policy too. Is this something common with desis? Do they set money aside for that day when they die and the wife needs to survive on her own, God forbid?