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Elderly Parents' Role in Family

As our society ages, the role of elderly parents within families becomes ever more prominent. As more people live longer lives, adult children may find themselves taking on caregiving duties for aging parents, and this can be both emotionally challenging and raise numerous ethical considerations. To better understand the diverse roles played by elderly parents within families, two distinct value frameworks are worth exploring, virtue ethics and utilitarianism. In the modern world, lesser and lesser extended families are witnessed in different parts of the world due to increased globalization and the desire by modern-day people to pursue education and career. Therefore, the role of elderly parents in families has become less and less pronounced. This term paper explores the role of elderly parents within families, looking at various cultural and diversity issues in this context. The term paper will specifically evaluate the roles within family structures through emotional support, caregiving duties, and sharing knowledge and experience.

Role of Elderly Parents in the Family:

Elderly parents play an invaluable role in families by supporting and guiding their adult children and grandchildren. One of their key contributions can be offering emotional support. Many elderly parents have lived through difficult experiences and can share these with adult children and grandchildren facing tough times. Their expertise can provide much-needed advice, helping family members cope more easily with stress, anxiety, and other mental health conditions. Secondly, elderly parents can contribute significantly to their families by passing down traditions and values. This is especially helpful when families possess solid cultural or religious ties, such as teaching their children about customs, foods, and other aspects of their heritage that may otherwise be lost to future generations. By imparting such information, they help ensure these aspects of family history remain preserved for future generations.

Third, parents who are elderly provide their grandchildren and adult children with more than just values and traditions; they also offer practical assistance such as childcare. Many grandparents play an active role in caring for their grandchildren, from babysitting and other occasional services to becoming primary caregivers themselves. According to Cheng and Kitty, this can be especially helpful for adult children juggling working and family obligations. Parents who are elderly can provide financial aid to their grandchildren and adult children through gifts, loans, or any other support option. Although this might not always be practical or necessary, grandparents may occasionally provide such aid through gifts, loans, or any other possible avenue. Finally, Senior parents can stabilize their families by serving as continuity figures. Being older members, they have experienced many of life's changes and challenges first-hand; by sharing their knowledge and wisdom with their children and grandchildren, elderly parents can help guide them through them while making the most out of the opportunities that life provides them (Silverstein 1072).

Culture and Diversity Dictating the Role of Elderly Parents in a Family

Culture and diversity are critical in defining how elderly parents function within family units. Different cultures have diverse views about aging, the elderly, and their societal roles; for instance, in African and Asian cultures, elderly members are revered and sought out for advice (Jang et al. 349). Their wisdom is valued greatly when making important family decisions. On the other hand, in Western cultures...