A recent spate of news coverage has fueled a growing narrative of hardship among seniors. , in which adult children cease contact with their aging parents, has drawn headlines. A tearful Florida grandmother attracted attention for publicly imploring the government to step in after her adult daughter kept her from seeing her grandson for weeks over a babysitting dispute. Other headlines emphasize allegedly rising rates of poverty among older Americans.
One might get the impression that things have never been worse for the elderly. But older adults once faced far more familial mistreatment and financial hardship. In fact, it’s arguable that today represents something of a golden age for the golden years, especially in the United States.
Comments