1 . How the Elderly Are Treated Around the World

How cultures view and treat their elderly is closely linked to their most prized values and qualities.     1    

In the US and UK, Protestantism (新教) is at play. Western cultures tend to be youth-centric, stressing qualities like independence.     2     It ties a person’s value to his or her ability to work – something that becomes weaker in old age. As their health becomes worse, the elderly in these cultures often move to old people’s homes and nursing homes.

In France, parents are protected by law. It is difficult to imagine an Elderly Rights Law being a focus in the laws of many Western cultures. France did, however, pass a similar law in 2004.     3     One was a group of official statistics showing France had the highest rate of pensioner suicides in Europe, and the other was the aftermath of a heat wave that killed 15,000 people, most of whom were elderly and had been dead for weeks before they were found.

    4     Native American cultures traditionally accept death as a fact of life. In many Native American areas, elders are respected for their wisdom and life experiences. Within Native American families, it’s common for the elders to be expected to pass down their learning to younger members of the family.

The way to care for Chinese elders is changing. Chinese families traditionally view respect for one’s elders as the highest virtue, according to the Confucian tradition. Adult children are generally expected to care for their parents in their old age.     5     Nursing homes are beginning to become a more socially acceptable option for elderly care.