Should Younger Generations Be Financially Responsible for Eldercare? Where is the Line on 'Intergenerational Fairness'?

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?

In a word, no. They need to concentrate their efforts on doing what’s best for them.

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?

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 :icon_wink:

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 ! :grinning::+1:

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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.

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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