In this era of unprecedented technological advancements and highly unmonitored exposure to all types of media, the question whether the government or old people’s relatives should pay for the nursing home is a controversial topic to debate about. Myriads of people strongly assume that old people are under relative’s responsibility and they must pay for this care, while others do not accede to this dimension claiming that the government has to take care of this pays. Considering all the pros and cons of this issue, I am inclined to conclude that it should be required for government to pay for the nursing home of every old person. My thesis is formed by the considerations which will be stated in the following paragraphs.
First and foremost, it goes without saying that many old people do not have relatives or their relatives are too poor to pay for the nursing home. If the government does not pay for them, many old people can just stay outside and do not have anywhere to go. Whereas, if the government pays for that care old people’s family members can relax and know for sure that their grandparents or parents are safe. A compelling example of this can be my mother’s experience. When her parents became old and could not take care of themselves my mother quit her job to stay with them. But my father had financial problems in that period, so my mom had to start working again. She did not have other choice, but asking the nursing home to take care of them. Unfortunately, the my mother found that the cost is very high and our family cannot afford that. So, my mother decided to not go back working and lost her job forever. After one year both of them passed away because they had serious medical conditions, but this one year was a torture for our family. Somedays we did not have anything to eat because we had no money. Of course, we managed to recover after my grandparents passed away, but me and my younger brother lost one year at school, because my parents could not pay for the school, either. Contemplating on all this, for some families it is very difficult to financially support their older relatives, parents or grandparents. Also, many old people do not have relatives. So, the government should take care of them, after they are not able to do that by themselves.
Furthermore, it is crucial to highlight the fact that every citizen in most countries pays for medical and social insurance during all their lives. Generally, people become unable to take care of themselves by the last years of their lives, so government is able to cover the nursing home payment even by the money old people payed when they where younger to the government. Let us take the example of today’s nursing home. In US, nursing homes cost almost two hundred dollars a day, which is not cheap comparing to the majority’s income. In Canada, relatives have to pay for the room and food. So, if you cannot afford a high-cost nursing home, you can neither afford a rest for your parents or grandparents. While, if the government takes responsibility for old people, many wealthy people, companies and volunteers will be willing to invest in nursing homes. Also, this would be great for some students who need to volunteer in order to graduate or write it in their resume. Hence, taxes people pay their all life and alternative ways which can cover the nursing home care or do the work themselves is enough for the government to make the nursing houses free.
To sum it up the spectrum of opinions people may entertain regarding the topic of who should pay for old people’s care is extremely wide. But still, I am for the statement that government must take care of this considering such factors as many old people do not have relatives or they are financially unstable and the insurance they paid when they were younger.