Singapore Elders are Dumped
According to the newpapers, many singapore elderly are been dumped at old folks homes. Many are not paying for the bills. Clients owe millions of dollars and a third of them owe the homes more than 3 months’ bills. It is saddening to see that even the rich families are not paying up. These people just want to dump the elderly and live on with their own life.
So what is wrong with singaproeans? The answer is generation gap. The elderly tend to be less techie and not willing to learn. The old generation tend to have this mindset “Grow my children up so they will take care of me”.
This is the WRONG mindset. Generation has changed. This is a different world. If you cannot get into the world of your children and understand what they are doing, you are risking yourself getting dumped.
Just keep upgrading yourself and learn regardless of your age. Gain more respect from your children. If they dont respect you anymore, you are in trouble. Dont ever have the mindset that they are responsible for your well-being when you are old.
You must always be self-sufficient. Dont be lazy. Keep learning and upgrade yourself. Having a lot of savings at old age will save yourself.
sophie said
am April 2 2006 @ 10:22 am
Yah and there’s the bit about the young people being selfish too.
Shemowito said
am April 3 2006 @ 3:57 am
I read your story with interest. It has been a subject of contention among my friends. The fault lies partly with some parents who unwittingly declare that they are not hopeful that their children would look after them. If only they had inculcated upon them the value of filial piety in their formative years, perhaps the number of abandoned parents may be lessened. Time may change, but we must continue to teach the right Asian value in life to our children. Do not ape the West.
Amelia Earhart said
am April 14 2006 @ 11:18 am
There has been a paradigm shift from a collectivistic to an individualistic society, me thinks.
I suspect parents, who say they don’t want to depend on their children, are being sarcastic/going on a guilt trip/doing reverse psychology. Obviously, that has backfired. Because their kids believe what they want to believe, yes?, and take the easy way out.
Another viewpoint: parents have been too indulgent that their kids have become self-centred. Or they have an emotionally estranged relationship with their parents.
At the end of the day, as a child, ask yourself: what’s the right, even if difficult, thing to do? And when you have your own family, build strong emotional ties. Only then taking care of one’s parents will come naturally.
PIZEN said
am November 8 2006 @ 10:14 am
YES, THIS IS THE RESULT OF HI-TECH., THIS IS THE RESULT OF MODERNISM, YES THIS IS THE RESULT OF BEING VERY BUSY IN BUSINESS. YES THIS IS THE RESULT OF DEMOCRACY!!!!! IN 21ST CENTURY.