Elderly care by the state: أفكار لمقال IELTS

People disagree about whether families or governments should be responsible for the care of elderly people. In my opinion, the state should provide the main framework, with families offering emotional support.

Those who place the responsibility on families have a point. Relatives know the elderly person best and can provide affection and companionship that no institution can match. In many cultures, caring for parents is considered a moral duty, a way of repaying the care received in childhood. Home care is also familiar and comfortable for the older person, and it can reduce the cost to the public budget.

However, relying entirely on families is unrealistic today. Many adult children work long hours, live in other cities or have young children to look after, and a person who must give up a job to care for a parent may suffer financial hardship and exhaustion. Elderly care often requires specialist skills, such as managing dementia or physical disability, which untrained relatives cannot provide. Moreover, not everyone has family nearby, and those without children could be left without help. Governments are better placed to ensure that every older person has access to pensions, healthcare and residential or home-care services regardless of their circumstances. Societies such as Denmark fund extensive public care, and elderly residents there are less dependent on their relatives and generally enjoy a high quality of life.

Therefore, I think the government should guarantee professional care and financial security, while families remain involved through visits, companionship and decisions about treatment. This combination respects both the practical needs and the emotional needs of older people.

In conclusion, although families have an important emotional role, the state should take primary responsibility for elderly care, because it can offer universal, professional and reliable support.