Title: 7 Cultures That Celebrate Aging And Respect Their Elders | HuffPost Life
Headings: 7 Cultures That Celebrate Aging And Respect Their Elders
7 Cultures That Celebrate Aging And Respect Their Elders
Here's what we can learn from other cultures, both past and present, about embracing the aging process.
"Old man" isn't a bad word in Greek.
Native American elders pass down their knowledge.
In Korea, elders are highly respected.
Chinese children care for their parents in old age.
In India, elders are the head of the family.
In the African-American community, death is seen as an opportunity to celebrate life.
In ancient Rome, elders were a precious resource.

Content: However, this tradition is beginning to break down in China, due to the country's one-child policy, rising life expectancy and an aging population. Nursing homes are beginning to become a more socially acceptable option for elderly care. In India, elders are the head of the family. Many Indians live in joint family units, with the elders acting as the head of the household. The elders are supported by the younger members of the family and they in turn play a key role in raising their grandchildren. "Advice is always sought from them on a range of issues, from investment of family money to nitty-gritties of traditional wedding rituals and intra-family conflicts. And this is not just passive advice; their word is final in settling disputes," Achyut Bihani wrote in Slate. " The elderly are often the most religious and charitable members of the family." Disrespecting the elders of the family or sending them to an old-age home has a social stigma in India, Bihani adds.