Title: How Culture and Society Impact the Elderly
Headings: How Culture and Society Impact the Elderly
How Culture and Society Impact the Elderly
Depending on culture, aging can be seen as an undesirable phenomenon or as an accumulation of wisdom and status.
Learning Objective
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Cultural views on aging
Aging and Ageism
Eldercare
Cultural Views on Aging and Death

Content: In developed countries such as the United States, nearly one million elderly citizens are helped by assisted living facilities. These facilities allow the elderly to keep a sense of independence while providing them with the care and supervision necessary to stay safe. Other elderly people are cared for by members of their family; however, eldercare in the United States is often viewed as a burden by family members who are busy living their own lives, making assisted living and respite-care facilities a commonly chosen option. Cultural Views on Aging and Death
While countries like the United States and Japan focus more on independent care, Indian culture places greater emphasis on respect and family care for the elderly. In contrast to the United States, many countries view elderly citizens, especially men, in very high regard. Traditional values demand honor and respect for older people, who are considered to be wiser from experience. In China, several studies have noted the attitude of filial piety, or deference and respect to one's parents and ancestors in all things, as defining all other virtues. People also perceive death, whether their own or that of others, based on the values of their culture. People in the United States tend to have strong resistance to the idea of their own death and strong emotional reactions of loss to the death of loved ones.