Protection of the Rights and Interests of the Elderly

China has a law that protects the rights and interests of the elderly and very recently a 77 year old woman  went to court and won the country’s first neglect case.

The elderly population is often neglected by their off-spring and this law requires them to visit their elderly parents “ often” although “often” was not defined precisely.

In this particular case, the court required the woman’s daughter and son-in-law to visit her once every two months and on at least two of China’s national holidays. If they failed to visit they could be ordered to pay compensation.

I believe Singapore also has a similar law which requires the off-spring to look after their elderly parents financially. Even so, one can see many old people working in food courts as cleaners, pushing heavy trolleys as they clear used tableware and wipe the tables. Many others who have retired are now working as taxi drivers. Some of them said they prefer to depend on themselves while they are still able, rather than add to the burden of their children who have their own families to raise.

Mistreatment and neglect of the elderly is not peculiar to any one country.  Sad to say it exists everywhere.  Geography could be a factor as most young people migrate to big cities to look for work. Others could have migrated to other countries, leaving their old folks behind.

Time is another factor. Many young families have only time for themselves during the weekends, touted as family time to spend with their children since the weekdays are busy working days. They have no time to spare for their elderly parents.

Gone are the days when extended families lived together or close by so that bonds are nurtured and the elderly are highly respected and looked after.  Many old folks have been abandoned and left to fend for themselves and those who are more fortunate are shunted off to old folks’ homes and left there without any visitors, not even on festival days.

It is an indictment of society that old people who are sick and poor are usually abandoned.  Those who are financially well-off do not have to suffer the indignities of the poor. What has gone wrong? Why is there a need to legislate in order that the elderly are given a modicum of attention?

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