Serious question.
For those people who don't plan on ever having kids, what's your strategy for your close-to-end-of-life care? If you're going to say a bullet to the brain or other forms of suicide don't bother replying to this thread.
I've been thinking a lot about this especially because I've been traveling quite a bit worldwide and I've seen the contrasting strategies that different countries and cultures take.
- Depending on Children -
I'm 30, Chinese, single, with no kids. Parents are 67.
End-of-life care is provided by one's children. It's an Asian thing, and it's also the reason why Asian governments don't provide much for their elderly because culturally it is the responsibility of their children to take care of them when they get old, frail, and eventually bedridden.
My parents, for example, would never forgive me if I sent them to a nursing home. I don't want kids or even a spouse, so that puts me in a very difficult situation to look after both of them as they get closer to passing away. it also puts ME in a difficult situation for when I get older.
- Care through Private Funds and Private Institutions -
People use a combination of social security payments, personal savings, and help from family to fund their own nursing home and hospice care through private providers. This gets expensive and medical costs can bankrupt personal finances and the finances of family members. But that's what we seem to have in America.
- Care through the Government -
Become citizens of places like the UK and NZ. Having personal experience in NZ through my elderly aunt and uncle, I know that the government will provide housing, nursing care, a stipend for food and such, and even transportation to the elderly. No family required. Health care is also included.
--
So I go back to my original question, for those who don't plan on having kids, what is your strategy for your own care when you get old?
There's a lot of talk from people (especially younger people) asserting their "independence" and "freedom" by choosing not to have kids and family, but while that might be all well and good while they're *healthy* and can still enjoy life without external help, I feel that this line of thinking is short-sighted and will inevitably cause problems.
Because we *all* eventually become dependent on the support of others once we get old.
For those people who don't plan on ever having kids, what's your strategy for your close-to-end-of-life care? If you're going to say a bullet to the brain or other forms of suicide don't bother replying to this thread.
I've been thinking a lot about this especially because I've been traveling quite a bit worldwide and I've seen the contrasting strategies that different countries and cultures take.
- Depending on Children -
I'm 30, Chinese, single, with no kids. Parents are 67.
End-of-life care is provided by one's children. It's an Asian thing, and it's also the reason why Asian governments don't provide much for their elderly because culturally it is the responsibility of their children to take care of them when they get old, frail, and eventually bedridden.
My parents, for example, would never forgive me if I sent them to a nursing home. I don't want kids or even a spouse, so that puts me in a very difficult situation to look after both of them as they get closer to passing away. it also puts ME in a difficult situation for when I get older.
- Care through Private Funds and Private Institutions -
People use a combination of social security payments, personal savings, and help from family to fund their own nursing home and hospice care through private providers. This gets expensive and medical costs can bankrupt personal finances and the finances of family members. But that's what we seem to have in America.
- Care through the Government -
Become citizens of places like the UK and NZ. Having personal experience in NZ through my elderly aunt and uncle, I know that the government will provide housing, nursing care, a stipend for food and such, and even transportation to the elderly. No family required. Health care is also included.
--
So I go back to my original question, for those who don't plan on having kids, what is your strategy for your own care when you get old?
There's a lot of talk from people (especially younger people) asserting their "independence" and "freedom" by choosing not to have kids and family, but while that might be all well and good while they're *healthy* and can still enjoy life without external help, I feel that this line of thinking is short-sighted and will inevitably cause problems.
Because we *all* eventually become dependent on the support of others once we get old.