France Life Stages: Old Age
Challenges to Some
Old people in France, unless they are rich, face various problems. Many French companies, reluctant to hire people over 50, also have no inclination to retain older skilled workers. However, the situation has seen improvement as many companies have begun to realize the value of skilled older workers.
After they retire, the affluent elderly may travel abroad or take up hobbies. The less fortunate have to eke out a living from their social security benefits or from the occasional help they get from their children.
The intellectual perception of the need to respect the elderly in France often fails to translate into actual care of the elderly. Most elderly live in their homes where children, and grandchildren occasionally visit them or trained elderly-care workers provided by the state care for them.
Waning Care
Many of the elderly turn to their children for help when they fall ill. The government also offers programs that provide skilled elderly-care workers to those in need. In case of ill health, children generally make decisions on behalf of the elderly.
Nonetheless, the situation of the elderly has recently worsened. The elderly now commit one-third of all suicides in France. The elder-care situation has deteriorated so greatly that the French government has threatened to punish families who neglect their elderly.
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