Posted on 03/16/2016 8:08:01 AM PDT by wagglebee
Life expectancy has increased significantly over the past several decades and people live longer now than they did even 50 years ago. The average American now lives to almost 79 years old, nearly double the life expectancy for the average person in 1900. Yet, despite the number of older folks in our society, lack of respect and care for the elderly has become an increasing problem.
As our society embraces a “throwaway” and materialistic mindset, we see a decline in the birth rate as well as a greater aging population. As society loses respect for the human person at even the very first moments of life, the next logical step is to devalue people near the end of their lives. It is a cultural epidemic that we see repeatedly.
If we only value a human being as long as he is a functioning, contributing member of society, how can we see the young, the old, and the sick as nothing other than a drain on society and a burden to their families? In Japan, many elderly people commit suicide in order to avoid becoming a burden to their families or to keep from being alone.
Families opt to “take care” of their aged or disabled members through euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide, ostensibly to put the older person out of his or her misery. This throwaway culture tells us that assisted-suicide is the only answer for pain and suffering. But as pro-lifers, we know all too well that death is not compassionate care.
In a culture of life, no person is viewed as a burden, no matter how much care and attention they need. Senior citizens are some of the wisest members of our society, and they deserve to be treated with honor and respect. As elderly persons slow down in life, they are blessed with an opportunity to share their wisdom and teach the younger generations that every moment is a gift from a loving Creator and an opportunity to choose to love those around us.
In summer of 2016, the Culture of Life Studies Program will release our second unit study in the Life Primer series for students in kindergarten through third grade. All Shapes and Sizes emphasizes the gift of all people, especially those who seem different—whether they suffer from disabilities, Down syndrome, or old age.
Grandparents or aging aunts and uncles are a gift to their families, as they are able to take the time to teach the younger generations about the simple things in life. All Shapes and Sizes uses two picture books by acclaimed artist and writer Tomie dePaola to show students how to treat their aging relatives with love and respect, no matter how much care they need. No matter what their contribution to society, all senior citizens deserve to be valued and treated respectfully.
How can we value the elderly?
Many senior citizens feel lonely, having outlived their spouses and many of their friends. Oftentimes family members live far away or do not visit frequently. Sometimes an elderly person is left all alone and has no one who cares about them enough to pay a visit. Take a few minutes during the week to visit some of your elderly neighbors to let them know that you care about them.
Living in a nursing home is often difficult for senior citizens, and they are easily forgotten by their family and friends. Plan a trip to a local nursing home with your family or students. Younger children can decorate simple cards to pass out to the residents as a way of letting them know they have not been forgotten. A simple five-minute visit can make the difference for a person who has no one to comfort him in his suffering and isolation.
Look for All Shapes and Sizes, the Culture of Life Studies Program’s unit study on the gift of every human being, in summer 2016! Visit our upcoming supplements page to see what other projects we have in development.
Learn more about euthanasia and caring for the elderly in the Culture of Life Studies Program’s Euthanasia: An Introduction which teaches high school students what the Church teaches about end-of-life care and how we can respect all human beings from creation until death. Visit all.org/store to order your copy.
Laura Kizior is a content developer for American Life League’s Culture of Life Studies Program, which stresses the culture of life as an integral part of every academic discipline. CLSP is dedicated to helping students become effective communicators of the pro-life message. Sign up for our e-mail newsletter to see how we can help you foster a culture of life at home and in school.
Amen!
After 19 trillion in debt I would not blame the younger generation if they confiscated SS benefits and the estates of all prior generations who allowed this mess to proceed.
So she”s demented? sorry to hear that.
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America - “valuing the elderly”
Hahahahaha....
Funny.
Shame on you.
And just in case people think I am serious about this: </sarc>
After having spent the last 3 months helping my Grandmother care for my 88yo grandfather while holding full time professional work I’ll say it isn’t a burden. However he has lost his mental facilities. So much so that he is in a psych eval ward. Having visited him last night it is a travesty that the person with the condition must suffer through not knowing up from down and the very people having to remember who they were see them in this state.
It is in no way humane that a person in that capacity expressing the fact they do not wish to live in that condition prior to (and should that time come) not be allowed to go with dignity. I just see this in a different way
They talk big about antibullying campaigns, but never mention that euthanasia is the ultimate in bullying.
There is nothing undignified about dying on God’s terms.
It must run in the family...at least she has retained her civility.
I did not say kill anyone. I said I would not blame future generations from confiscating prior generations estate wealth after the total lack of involvement that allowed 19+ trillion in debt.
I don’t think grandkids deserve the grandparents bills.
“After 19 trillion in debt I would not blame the younger generation if they confiscated SS benefits and the estates of all prior generations who allowed this mess to proceed.”
It’s a shame that you can’t “confiscate” some of the sense of personal responsibility, work ethic, and sense of responsibility of the generations that brought you. It’s a travesty that some of the common sense and ability to sacrifice for The Almighty and for love of family and country present in them seems not to have fallen to you. Those things made the generations that preceded yours some of the most productive and innovative in history. It gave them all the tools they needed to defeat much greater enemies of our nation than debt.
It’s also a shame that you can’t understand that a huge portion of that debt on which you try to blame the older generation came by way of pandering, lying politicians who gave away national treasure for the sake of a few votes to keep them in power, just like they’re still doing to you with your blessing.
The thing you are most lacking are things that no one could ever give you, but without which you will never see peace or prosper no matter how much money and material things you are given or that you “confiscate”; a heart and a soul. Those who think like you will eventually eat their own when there’s no one else to blame or “confiscate” from. Good luck with all that. I won’t be here to see it. I’m glad I got to live in a time when humanity had humanity. You will not. I can only imagine the horrors. The national debt will be the least of your sorrows.
You and I disagree. A person who wishes to not have their family endure the mental anguish and wishing for them to not remember them in that condition as well as not wanting to live in a condition of just “existing” should be allowed to determine the terms by which it ends.
Allowing “medicine” to prolong the inevitable and prolong this torturous condition I feel is undignified and inhumane.
Just my opinion
I agree with BB. God knows best, and does what it best for all. We do not understand Him always, but I trust that His timing is perfect. What could be undignified about that?
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