Two Cultures, One Challenge
by Junyao from Elk Grove, CA
The last note of the Chopin nocturne faded. Breathless silence hung over the seniors residents, as if they had awoken from their stupors and were seeing the world for the first time. A sheen of translucent tears glistened on some wrinkled cheeks.
There comes a time when age renders us helpless, causing us to depend on others to perform the most routine tasks. In the United States, 69 percent of the people turning 65 need some form of long-term care. With the number of seniors expected to double by 2030, securing both financial and emotional needs poses a problem in my community.
The annual cost of living in a U.S. assisted living facility is around $32,572 and $74,806 for a private room. Reaching 89 percent of the U.S. population 65 years or older, Social Security is the major source of income for 66 percent of beneficiaries and the only source of income for 21 percent. Along with Medicare and Medicaid, Social Security reflects America’s strong democratic ideals and the belief in self-efficacy.
I never realized the loneliness seniors felt, with family ties becoming looser, until I became a regular volunteer at my local senior home four years ago. On my first visit, it was depressing to see the residents sitting so still, their eyes dull and lifeless. However, when I play the piano for them or listen to their stories, the spark momentarily returns to their eyes.
Thousands of miles away in China, I visit my relatives in Yunnan Province. The delicious aromas from the kitchen join the bustling and laughter of four generations under one roof, including my great-grandmother, who is in her 90s and is as clear-minded and robust as ever.
For over 5,000 years, China has upheld a tradition of filial piety: love and respect for one’s parents and ancestors. It is not uncommon for several generations to live under one roof. The seniors I observed in China are mentally and physically active, from early morning Tai Chi to caring for their grandchildren and even great-grandchildren.
But what impact will China’s One-Child Family Policy, created in 1979, have? In China, the percentage of the population over 65 years old is now 7.5 percent but is expected to increase to more than 15 percent by 2025. Since pensions in China are only available to those employed in government or large companies, 70 percent of seniors depend financially on their offspring. Nicknamed the “4:2:1” phenomenon, more couples will be solely responsible for one child and four parents. Chances are, one child will not have enough money, time or energy to care for two aged parents.
Adopting a U.S. style social security program would give Chinese seniors more security and financial independence. Without further action, experts predict the burden of caring for seniors could have a major impact on China’s development.
Similarly, the U.S. can learn from China’s emphasis on filial respect by going beyond providing material comforts. This will not only help seniors gain a more enjoyable quality of life but also enrich the younger generation.
As I leave the senior home, I feel intense joy and satisfaction from brightening the residents’ day, but also a twinge of sorrow for the millions of seniors who have that lifeless look in their eyes.
Recently at 93, my great-grandmother passed away peacefully in her sleep. How many more seniors in China will be able to live a long, enriching life if their only child cannot provide for them?
With all they have contributed to society, seniors around the world deserve to have comfort, peace, and love during the last stage of their lives.
