SPA UK Sandesh 2013 | Page 47

values. Is this new? No. This thought of misunderstanding each other has always been there to some degree even in the past. The seniors, as always, have tried to accommodate the modern thoughts as much as possible, but have been conscious of the effects that will be there as well as having tried to keep up the community and Hindu values of life, and would appreciate highly if the youth be strong enough to propagate those values upon themselves and pass on to their children. highlighted. Are we really fighting a losing battle with them? Is there a clear cut answer to any of these problems? One needs a clear conscience and a brave heart to make any decision, and once made, one or the samaj as a whole should be strong enough to follow and face the consequences. Hence, every member and the samaj as a whole have to think hard to find appropriate solutions. Care for the elderly is another issue. If the family is supportive, it becomes easier for the elderly to be looked after and taken care of. However, in this day and age, the family members also need their own free time. The time of Shravankumar taking his blind parents on pilgrimage is hardly found nowadays: though, there may be some dutiful children still looking after their parents and grandparents to the best of their abilities. In UK, state assistance in the hospitals and visits by the carers has been well established. Conflict The above are some of the main issues which have been Conflict is part of being human. It comes from being different from others – from having a different set of attitudes or perceptions, different goals and a lack of empathy. When conflict grows inside a family from grandparent to grandchild or in a society from young workers to people on Social Security, it can lead to painful and difficult situations. There are reasons for the conflict: risk, finances, physical inabilities and a lack of empathy. The reasons can be understood and overcome. Finances Both the young and the old require money to thrive. The number of elderly is growing in relation to the number of younger taxpayers. The young see themselves making contributions to a system which won’t be there [For financial options see ‘Benefits for people over 60’] Physical Inabilities People who can’t do as much as other members of the community or family take up scarce resources, whether it’s a grandparent who has difficulty in moving or a teenager who has broken a leg on the football field. The community or the family is better at handling stressful situations if a responsible person can identify the needs and resources and develop a fair plan to tackle such problem. Lack of Empathy When one or more of the participants sees the other behind a mask of misunderstanding, stressful situations are made worse We form empathy by sharing experiences. The old and the young may have no areas in which they have done or seen the same things. When the young and old look at each other, often they see only the mask of age and fail to find any common experience. Benefits For People Over 60 The benefits system in the UK is complex. There is a lot of information available on the UK government’s public services and information website, at www.gov. uk which has an online benefits calculator that will estimate the benefits you are entitled to and claim online. The purpose of most benefits is to make sure the basic needs of the recipient are met, which means that any additional income is unlikely to help you meet your credit commitments Some of the rules about benefits depend on your age. In many cases, the rules change when you get to state pension age, the age when people can choose to start getting their State Pension. State pension age always used to be 45 Risk Both young people and the elderly are at risk, but for different reasons. The young haven’t finished their growth period and may be working with a mind and body that fails to work in a responsible way. Their ability to perceive issues of character and situation may not be matured. The elderly may be able to see situations and individuals clearly but can’t deal with either one because of the frailty of their bodies or health. when they need it. They have to pay for medicines and social security now and all the money goes to someone else.