In this fast-moving society, everyone faces a variety of challenges and choices. Especially for those who are entering middle age, when they are looking forward to enjoying the peace and ease in the twilight of life, they are often faced with the difficult reality of caring for their elderly parents. Although filial piety is a traditional virtue of the Chinese nation, blindly taking care of the elderly full-time may not be the best choice. Here are three reasons why it is not recommended to serve your parents full-time.
Think about your own retirement
At the age of fifty, the body has gradually entered a state of fatigue, gray hair is gradually growing, and it may also be accompanied by some minor ailments. It's a reminder that we should start thinking seriously about our future. Mr. Lee, a recently retired accountant, originally planned to travel the world after retirement, but he chose to take care of his mother with a chronic illness full-time. After a few years, he found that his pension was far from enough to support his medical expenses and future living expenses.
This is not uncommon. Many middle-aged people often neglect to prepare for their retirement while devoting themselves to taking care of their parents. Therefore, reasonable planning to ensure your future economic security is an important part that cannot be ignored.
Rational distribution of responsibilities
It is the responsibility of a child to take care of their parents, but this does not mean that it should be done by one person alone. Ms. Zhang, a secondary school teacher, was gradually feeling physically and mentally exhausted as she took care of her sick father alone. Her siblings, while occasionally providing some financial support, are rarely actually involved in day-to-day care. This imbalance in the distribution of responsibilities ultimately led to Ms. Zhang feeling extremely lonely and stressed.
The real rationale is to involve every family member and share the responsibility of caring for the elderly. This not only reduces the burden on the individual, but also increases the connection and understanding between family members.
Maintain the health of the individual's mentality
Caring for the elderly full-time for long periods of time, especially those with serious illnesses, has a significant psychological and emotional impact on individuals. Mr. Zhao was a bubbly and cheerful businessman, but since taking care of his Alzheimer's father full-time, his social circle has shrunk dramatically, and his life revolves almost exclusively around taking care of his father. Over time, Mr. Zhao's mood became more and more depressed, and he even developed mental health problems.
To maintain a healthy mindset, we must ensure that we have enough space in our lives to breathe and relax. Only by maintaining a good personal psychological state can we take better care of others.
When we stand at a crossroads in our lives, choosing how to care for our elderly parents is a deliberate decision. Although taking care of our parents full-time is out of kindness and filial piety, we cannot neglect to think about ourselves and the future of our families. Rationally allocating responsibilities, safeguarding one's own future, and maintaining one's mental health are all important aspects that we cannot ignore. Let us not forget to care for ourselves while caring for our parents, only in this way can we truly achieve family harmony and happiness.