Family's responsiblity of taking care of older parents?

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barbyann

337 Posts

Nobody wants to be abandoned

In my experience, most don't want to be a burden to their families.

micstn

48 Posts

I agree with you that some people did not have happy childhood, but extreme bad parents are few, I do not think that is many cases. parents do have stress. I really feel that kids are spoiled here.

micstn

48 Posts

But when they need attention on heir daily life you can not leave them alone

Marshall1

991 Posts

It depends on the relationship...I think it would be unreasonable to expect a son or daughter to take care of a parent that was abusive to them, molested them etc. There are also financial issues to consider and how much care a person would need. Even the most well intentioned family would not be able to care for someone who was bedbound or had advanced dementia and work full time, have kids etc. It wouldn't be physically, emotionally or financially (for most) possible. That being said, there are resources, though limited or none existent depending on where someone lives, that can help a family try to care for a family member at home. Religious beliefs play a part but the reality of day to day living and trying to make it in these economic times would probably influence a decision more.

Trauma Columnist

traumaRUs, MSN, APRN

88 Articles; 21,249 Posts

Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

Moving to nursing student assistance forum.

Specializes in ER, Med-surg.

Since you're doing this for an ethical paper, OP, take a look at different cultural takes on the issue. We were just talking about this in class yesterday. None of us CNA's have ever seen someone of Asian descent in a nursing home or hospice. It may be that it's totally unacceptable to pass off loved ones to facilities while in our White American culture it seems to be much more acceptable and little shame may come with it.

Also, look at Mother Theresa's comments on nursing homes. Sure she may not be an authority on nursing, but there's an interesting perspective there.

micstn

48 Posts

Great points. I doubt about defination of abuse here, is slapping a child abusive? Or occasionally physical punishment for good reason is abusive?

Specializes in Hospital Education Coordinator.

remember, from an ethical standpoint, it is the perspective of the PATIENT that counts. So if the patient expects to cared for by adult children then you need to consider culture and religion and practical things like where the children live, do they work, etc. I don't want to live in a NH but one child lives 6000 miles away and the other a mere 1000 miles. So my options may be limited.

itsmejuli

2,188 Posts

Specializes in Home Care.

Hmmm...just thinking about what type o f paper you're hoping to write on this subject. You're going to need to include citations from articles you've read.

Maybe you could do a compare/contrast paper on how two or three different cultures care for their elderly.

zoe92

1,163 Posts

Totally agree with looking at cultural influences on caregiving for parents.... My grandmother has lived with us since she was 65 (now 89) and there has never been talk of putting her in a nursing home facility even when she had two strokes and pneumonia. But, my mother is from India and parents always live with their children when they become older. A majority of my Hispanic or Asian friends also have grandparents living with them.

micstn

48 Posts

Talk about culture, I have to tell you that my coworker, she is a nurse & American, she won't let her mom go to the nursing home neither

LCinTraining

308 Posts

I agree with you that some people did not have happy childhood, but extreme bad parents are few, I do not think that is many cases. parents do have stress. I really feel that kids are spoiled here.
this is not your place to say though. And it is a generalization to say extreme bad parents are few. You, as the care provider do not know the family dynamic. That little old lady who cries about how alone she is, may not have her daughter there because she wrote her out of her life, for whatever reason. We simply don't know. Our responsibility is to our patients. We are not in the position to determine who should and should not be there. We are in the position to be there ourselves and nothing more.
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