Grandchildren’s responsibility of care for elderly people and ethical problems

Abstract

    Many of the participants in this study were either those who had one of their parents passed away or suffering from a disease or those whose parents were nursing each other, so the participants, who were grandchildren, were taking care of their grandparents all by themselves. The nursing-care insurance, while available, provides only limited benefits if there is a family member living together, and the distressing situation is left unattended especially for younger-generation caretakers. Meanwhile, none of the participants was receiving any livelihood subsidies for economic support but was in needy conditions, as they felt solitude and estrangement as well as uncertainty for the future. They had little association with the same generation. Therefore, it would be our pressing task to grasp the existence of these younger generation caretakers, starting from our own backyard such as schools, communities, etc. so that those who have difficulty in participating in family functions may not be isolated from society to have their future closed in or they may not have themselves isolated. Support to care for younger generation caretakers must be given urgently in such a way as to cause no new stigma as we respect and value the feelings of the younger generation