Matters Of Death

Question 1

What are the positive attitudes to the elderly

Answer 1

1) age + experience sometimes counts for youthful enthusiasm
2) the importance of wisdom
3) retirement: fuelling the economy/old people that embrace retirement and enjoy it eg going on holiday

Question 2

What are the negative attitudes to elderly

Answer 2

1) ageism - elderly people are discriminated at work
2) society regards them as outdated
3) seen as parasites on state
4) retirement: no longer contributing to society
5) many old people feel a burden on society
6) generation gap: longer + harder to communicate with older people

Question 3

What is the generation gap

Answer 3

Younger generation have a skill set that the older generation do no have. Eg working social media

Question 4

How are the elderly treated in Hinduism

Answer 4

The elderly generally are treated with a lot of responsibility as they are considered to have gained knowledge and wisdom through life long experience. In the cycle of samsara they are closest moksha

Question 5

Whose responsibility is it to care for the elderly? During which ashrama

Answer 5

It is ultimately everyone’s duty to care for old people as everything is interdependent and interconnected. However it is the women of the house as they are in the householder’a stage (grihastha)

Question 6

What are the principal challenges faced by the elderly in India

Answer 6

Poverty is the real challenge for the average family as far as preventative health care in concerned. Mental health issues are also addressed within the family, although there is limited knowledge of mental illnesses. Even if you care not everyone is equipped

Question 7

What would a non Hindu care assistant need to consider when looking after a Hindu pensioner

Answer 7

Family and community over individualism
Complimentary roles over equalitarian roles
Spiritual over individual concepts of reality

Question 8

Name quotes from Christianity relating to caring for the sick and the elderly

Answer 8

1) exodus 20:12 honour thy father and thy mother
2) Leviticus stand up in the presence info the aged, show respect for the elderly and revere your God
3) Matthew 22:39 love your neighbour as yourself
4) the golden rule
5) agape
6) imago dei

Question 9

What role does religion play in the care of the elderly or dying

Answer 9

Teaches respect for elderly
Teaches+encourages compassion
Religious funerals 
Provides hope for the future 
Religious charities organise:
Home visits, transport for medical treatment, meals on wheels 
Hospice movement 
Counselling 
Sense of being valued