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Last month, I shared three programs from other countries meant to enhance the lives of elders. They made for some interesting discussions! So, this week I searched to see what other ideas I could find. I think you’ll find these programs equally fascinating.
Senior Citizens Day
Have you ever heard of Palau? It’s a small country in the western Pacific with a population of about 18,000 people.
A unique feature of Palau is their celebration of Senior Citizens Day every year on May 5. The day remembers and honors the contributions of the nation’s seniors. Interestingly, the people of Palau consider a person to be a senior citizen at age 55.
Senior Citizens Day offers an array of activities, including parades, dance performances, luncheons, seminars, and craft exhibits. Young people also make it a priority to spend the holiday with their elders.
As a national non-working holiday, schools, federal offices, and many businesses close for the day. This holiday is so vital to the people that they move the date on years when May 5th falls on a weekend.
Elderly Rights Law
You probably heard about a law instituted in China back in 2013 requiring adult children to visit their aging parents. The law came about because of a unique problem. China’s long history of restricting how many children people could have resulted in China’s population containing an unusually large number of elders, with not enough young people to support them.
To address the issue, China instituted the 2013 Elderly Rights Law with updates made in 2018. Basically, the law requires grown children to support their parents emotionally and financially. Those who fail to do so can face fines or jail time.
Proponents of the law believe it helps maintain China’s long tradition of treating elders with high esteem. It also promotes a better quality of life for seniors.
Critics note that the law is hard to enforce, especially the emotional support aspect. (How often should the government require someone to visit, call, or write to their parent?). They also express concern that the law can cause family rifts or animosity toward the elderly.
What do you think would happen if we enacted a similar Elderly Rights Law in the United States? Let me know your thoughts in the comments!
Skills Checkpoint Program For Older Workers
Australia offers a unique program to help mature workers (considered age 40 and above) to remain in the workforce. Eligible people are those who are at risk of becoming unemployed or recently became unemployed.
Participants receive assessments, guidance, and training to enable them to find a new role in their current profession or to enter a new career path. Partially funded by the government, the program also requires a contribution from the participant or their employer.
As I read about this program, I thought of several nursing assistants I worked with over the years. These women started working in a nursing home during their teens, and they spent many years providing excellent care for the residents.
But we all know about the physical demands of being a CNA. By middle age, they wore out their bodies, and they could no longer keep up with their jobs. Since they loved their residents, and this was the only job they had ever known, transitioning to a new career became difficult. I think a Skills Checkpoint Program would have been perfect for these CNAs.
Are you aware of a unique program or tradition for elders in another country? If so, I would love to feature it on my blog. Please let me know in the comment section.
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