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The Difference in the Treatment of Elderly in Today's Society

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Submitted By AM0713
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In the Disney movie Up, a young boy scout named Russell meets an elderly, adventurous man named Carl. While Russell was trying earn to get his Assisting the Elderly badge Carl decides to embark an trip to South Africa he had been planning for years. The pair now has to learn how to get along, overcome the obstacles they face and most importantly bridge the age gap between them(Docter). Throughout this trip Russell's perspective of the elderly changes dramatically and he has a new found respect.
The way America treats their elderly people varies greatly from other countries. In America we treat the elderly as if they are disposable. Instead of taking our mothers and fathers into our home to take care of them, we place them in retirement communities and nursing homes. Most nursing homes are filled with horrific stories. It is a known fact that nursing homes are understaffed. Our loved ones do not get the proper treatment they deserve and ninety percent of nursing homes fail federal inspections for health and safety (Henslin, 384). Elder abuse usually goes hand in hand with nursing homes but it can also take place in the family's home. Elder abuse includes mental, physical, sexual and financial abuse.
In other countries like China it is a son's duty to take care of this mother. The elderly mother will live in the biggest room of her sons' house, he will cook her special meals and take her to her medical appointments. This is how the elderly should be treated. In China elderly are considered a source of wisdom. However the elderly are not treated this well in every country. The Tiwi people who live of the northern coast of Australia choose to dispose of their frail, elderly women. Charles Hart, the anthropologist working on the case, described one of the woman as “ toothless, almost blind, withered” (Henslin, 367). Towards the end of the trip Charles has heard word that the women was dead. The Tiwi's method to dispose of their elderly women was to dig a whole and bury them up to her head and then leave her for a few days. Once they return she would be dead . The Tiwi people consider this to be a natural death (Henslin, 367).
If everyone could learn to respect the elderly like Russell did Carl in the movie Up, the elderly would be treated how they deserve. The way that China treat their elderly should be an example to other countries. If America and other countries do not change their ways, the life expectancy of humans will decrease dramatically and elderly people will cease to exist.

Works Cited
Docter, P. (Director). (2009). Up [Motion picture]. United States: Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment ;
Henslin, J. M. (2012). Life in society: readings to accompany Sociology, a down-to-earth approach (10th ed.). Boston: Pearson/Allyn and Bacon

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