Care for your elders while you can

THE article by Varoshini Nadesan in last week’s POST, “You too, dear students, will be old” is a poignant yet stark reminder to the younger generation that life invites their responsibility to the aged more now than ever.

The frailty and attendant debilitations that accompany aging is an irreversible act of nature, but like our elders, we too will one day be knocking on the very same doors.

Nadesan is correct – “we have moved away from being a society that cares”.

As the chase for the brass rings of life intensifies – better houses, expensive cars, state-ofthe-art technology – our values and obligations change.

The inevitability of old age, for those lucky enough to get there, demands what should be considered our natural care and love for our elders; yet many see them as a burden, an obstacle, or even a threat to the hedonistic lifestyles that many lead.

We need to embrace our elders for the sacrifices and care that they have unselfishly shown so that we may live better. Often we are so consumed with our lives that we “forget” that there is a reason why we are here in the first place.

As the baton is passed from one generation to the next, the demands and expectations increase, but no matter who or what we are, we must never forget that some of our most precious moments are with those who gave us life.

Too often, we regret when it’s too late the lost moments that add value to our existence, by ignoring those for whom natural attrition deals the cruel blow of old age.

The twilight years can be difficult ones for those whose support systems desert them along the way and it is not fair on them. Children these days have begun to learn to hate their parents – a sad indictment of our times.

For those of us fortunate enough to have elders in our lives, remember that their time is much less now than ever before – and any care or love for them costs much less, if it costs anything at all, than a new car or a better mobile phone. So it is incumbent upon us to make their diminishing moments filled with nothing but happiness and joy. It is the very least we can do. NARENDH GANESH

Durban North