“ The stereotypical elderly person in America is described as impoverished, socially isolated, and physically disabled”(Yohko Tsuji 84). I would have to disagree with Yohko. Elderly people are absolutely capable of having a social life and not all are physically disabled. For example my great grandmother Mrs. Odessa Washington lived to be 98 years old, she just pasted away in July of 2007. She was very active throughout the community. She was in the church choir and would dance around at the family reunions. Therefore elderly people can have a long life with good health. Nevertheless the things that people do throughout their lifespan can lead to a short life. Such as smoking, drinking alcohol and etc. All of these things can lead to health problems. Yet if people workout regularly and have a good diet they most likely will have a longer life.
Values that Americans hold in regard to our elders is a long list of things. I know that I value my elders opinion on things because I know that they are wise and they have been my age and may have had the same problem. In that case they would know exactly what to do in my situation. Every time that I need advice about life, I ask my grandmother Rosa. I may not like what she has to say. Yet I have learned the hard way that nine times out of ten, she is right. Now when I ask her for advice, I take it seriously.
Another value that Americans hold from our elders is their life. They have lived through things that I could not even start to imagine. Like the great depression, and slavery. My Grandmother Rosa, tells me stories all the time about how her mother would have to work in the flied everyday to feed her family of thirteen, and walk miles just to get there. Her stories show me why families should stick together. I also learned that her generation had so many values of life. My generation does not, we are constantly killing each other and robbing one another, etc. That’s why I value my elders and family, and I’m pretty sure others would agree with me. “The principle of values that people have can be good or bad and progress overtime”(Brooks 22).
In Japan “The traditional Japanese family, three generations-grandparents, parents, and children-live together”(Tsuji 85). They call is “sterm family”. While the mother and/or father works the grandparents take care of the house and children. While here in America some families live together but most don’t. If the parents need the grandparents to watch the children they take them over to their house. From my own experience, my mother FeLisa just had a baby named Tatiana. My grandmother watches her while my mother is at work. My grandmother enjoys watching her. She feels like it gives her something to do and she keeps her busy. I honestly believe if my grandmother wouldn’t watch my sister everyday, that she would just sit at home all day.
Nevertheless, many American families put their elders in nursing homes. The main reasons why people put their loved ones in nursing homes is due to the fact that if they are disabled, they may not be able to care for them on their own. Some elderly people do need a lot of medical attention. Therefore some people may feel that by putting them in a nursing home will a sure them that they will get the twenty-four hour attention they may need. For others, they might have their elderly live with them and have a caregiver come over to help. These people usually are against nursing homes. They might feel like nursing home don’t do their jobs, and let the elderly just continue to be sick without helping them. Only people that have financial ability can afford this. Let’s not forget that some Americans do not have elderly people that need a lot of medical attention. So they might live together or a part but, that’s by personal choice. Personally, I hope when my parents get older that I will be able to have them live with me. If they were to ever become ill I hope that I’m financially stable to have a caregiver. I also would like to add that I would never put any family member into a nursing. My great Grandmother Odessa Washington that I spoke about earlier, lived in a nursing home. Due to their lack of care, she died. my family sued and won a million dollar lawsuit.
In the book “Giving, Withholding and Meeting Partway” by Saleem Peeradina. It talks about in the “American rule book, selfless behavior is suspect, actions are viewed as always having a motive” (Peeradina 119). I would have to agree, because us Americans do feel that if someone does something it’s for a reason. For example. When that young man shoot up the Virginia Tech College campus. He did it for a reason. He felt like he wasn’t being heard. Therefore he went on a rampage throughout the school. I didn’t say that he’s right for doing what he did, but he had a reason why.
“Nothing is as easy and businesslike in personal dealings between Americans-even in marital and intimate family transactions-as settlements worked out in dollar amounts for specific help or gain. Money is a great leveler” (Peeradina 119). I somewhat agree with this argument. Yes to some money can settle almost everything. Yet to others, money is good but not everything. A lot of Americans have the “ if I do this for you what do I get in exchange for doing it”. Therefore my opinion is bias. “Nothing is touchy to Asian-Americans as the equating of acts of friendship and gestures of goodwill with monetary value. An act of generosity is meant to be accepted as a gift, a token of affection and esteem for the one on whom it is conferred” (Peeradina 119). Asian’s feel that if something is given to them, it’s a gift. They will return the favor but it’s doesn’t necessarily have to be right away. They for the opportunity to present it’s self, then they return the favor. Both Americans and Asians have the same value when it comes to giving and receiving. Yet they are done differently.
Bibliography
Peeradina, Saleem . Giving, Withholding and Meeting Midway: A Poet‘s Ethnography. Sienna Heights College, Adrian Michigan. (119).
Tsuji, Yohoko. Encounters with the Elderly in America. Cornell University, Ithaca, New York. (84-85).
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