The challenge of old age is rapidly becoming a public debate about generational responsibility. As populations age and the cost of quality long-term care skyrockets, the question is being asked with increasing urgency: Who should pay for the escalating expenses of eldercare and senior support?
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In a word, no. They need to concentrate their efforts on doing what’s best for them.
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It is different here in the UK where we have pensions from the government.
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The way the question is put is suggestive. First and foremost, generations must not be played off against each other. Based on a careful analysis of why expenses are increasing, generations must try to tackle the problem together by paying for it together, ideally share and share alike.
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If its Sh1t for the old folks now, what’s it goin to be like, for the next and the next generation?
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Anyway in this country, thanks to Maggie (and the grafters who would have prevailed regardless), the inheritors should be able to pay for their care.
What goes round comes round 
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Of course not. The direction of time, progress, and legacy is only one direction (in this reality) - forward. If I haven’t figured out in sixty-some odd years to take care of myself, it’s not my children’s responsibility. I’m with @d00d on this one ! 
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IMO, if you are raised, at the age of 18, you are out of the house or you pay $XXX a month in rent. ( When you leave home you get the money back, so you have money in your pocket). You can live at home for free if your in school.
You can go home for a visit but no longer than 14 days.
Under those conditions, the kids have no responsibility for the care of their parents.
IMO, I hear about people living at home with their parents at the ages, 30’s, 40’s and even 50’s. They have full responsibility of taking care of their parents.
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I see the OP is in USA, so arrangements for Pensioners may be different there.
Here in U.K, everyone who has paid into the National Insurance System receives a State Pension when they reach a certain age (currently age 66) This is a fairly low amount which will fund basic expenses but wouldn’t leave much left over for a comfortable lifestyle and if they have work-related or privately funded pensions or other assets, those extra pensions will help to fund their retirement.
The State Pensioners who have no private pensions or other savings or investment assets may receive an extra Pension Credit to top up their income.
These Pensions and Pension Credits are funded by all the current Taxpayers, so I guess the taxes paid by each generation are helping to fund the care of the generation of Pensioners. We will all benefit from that eventually.
From a personal perspective, I always felt financially responsible for my elderly parents who had no savings and took care of them in their old age, just as they took care of me in my childhood.
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Absolutely!
Never mind about the rest of society, you have a personal responsibility to look after your own parents in their later years. You wouldn’t be the person you are today without them or the sacrifices they made to feed you and teach you right from wrong. How could you possibly leave them to the mercy of people like Starmer and his cronies.
Other religions take care of their elders, and most Europeans still live in the family home with their parents. I remember when my grandparents lived with my Uncle, Auntie and my three cousins. It was a house of fun and happiness and I spent most of my younger years there.
Obviously there will be exceptions by people who had an unfortunate childhood and didn’t get on with their parents, but I can only reflect on my own childhood, and each situation should be judged upon it’s merits, but yes, the younger generation should be financially responsible for their elders when they can no longer fend for themselves…What’s the alternative? And it will be their turn soon…Isn’t this what we call ‘a civilised society’
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You are right Foxy, to a degree. It’s how a civilised society works, but only if it’s OK with all concerned. It should not be obligatory. It should not be a financial constraint, a black cloud over the young, holding them back.
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When some get older we put down young people ( I most certainly do , lol ) and much of it due to their phone addiction but I do agree with ‘’ In a word, no. They need to concentrate their efforts on doing what’s best for them.‘’
I can see both sides on this one … but I happen to know rather a lot of elderly people, aged 75 - 95 who sell up, give the surplus cash to their children and grandkids to help them out financially and then regret it.
Basically they opt for a low key low expenditure existence to help their offspring who then visit them infrequently.
But the real worrier is … care home fees when true independence is a memory and the future can look pretty bleak.
I don’t know about in the States or anywhere else but they are becoming exorbitant in the UK. … at around 1 to 1.5k a week and no one can ever prepare a financial cash reserve to meet that kind of expenditure.
In our grandparents day of course the elderly lived with their own families … but times are changing
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All you said is true here in the states, too. Pretty sad, but spot on.
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What about the cost of raising the children. Not mentioned this side of the equation. Consider the cost of feeding- clothing- holidays - care etc parents give to their children for normally the end of their teenage years if not longer.
So why not the children do the same for elderly parents?
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I agree … I wonder what would happen, or which would present the highest bill if
The parents gave their kids a bill including all the costs since birth, ante-natal care, schooling, health, education, clothing and holidays and all those kids treats …
Versus mum and dad presenting their own bill for a comfy retirement with a couple of holidays a year, top notch medical care and mobility aids.
Parents can’t be expected to pay for all of it.
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There shouldn’t be a dry eye on the forum…Or else you’re just a hard B’stard…
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No one was forced to have kids thus they do not owe us a thing .
I find both my daughters a pain in the @zz thus forced to lie to them and tell them I am dating someone , I only eat healthy food and regular medical check ups , all lies or they lecture non stop .
BTW , Since a lie I might as well live a dream and the woman I am " dating " owns an exotic fish import business and eventually when we break up ( I’m impossible ) my new girl friend will own a black pudding import business where black pudding is imported from all over the world .
Oh dear … you’ve just ruled me out.
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And me…Oops!.. 
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