联合晚报最近刊载不少疗养院面对困境，很多家人拖欠疗养费，而最终不得不聘用追债公司向儿女追讨费用，又或者提出控诉，经由赡养父母条例，要求子女共同分摊疗养费：
面临金融海啸，一些子女失业，或月入被削减两三成，而有“保自己弃父母”的心态，疗养费能拖就拖；一家疗养院今年3月时共有8万9000元拖欠款，而2个月后，已累积到20万元！
当中有的声称生意失败，一拖就是3年，累积高达2万8800元；而有些其实是把金融海啸当作“挡箭牌”，自己驾豪华车住大屋，却拖欠父母的疗养费；甚至还有人狠心的说：“最多你把我爸爸丢到街头好了！”
当然，部分子女确实是有心无力，但与其逃避，不如面对现实，共同解决问题。多数的疗养院都有社工服务，能为遭遇困难的家庭，申请短期的补助，或依照支付能力，重新衡量儿女必须支付的金额，一起度过难关。
否则逃避欠债之下，也意味着无法探望老人家了！可怜的长者自己在为疾病和疼痛挣扎之际，却得不到家人的关怀、温暖与支持；那么，心理的痛楚将比肉体更难以承受，而加重了病情，或萌生厌世的念头。
每个星期探访疗养院时，都会发现两类不同的人，但凡平静、开朗、笑脸迎人的病患，都是拥有家人满满的爱；而孤僻、冷漠或一脸愁苦的人则多数没有亲友探望！
当然，家家有本难念的经，谁是谁非，有时也说不准，但能为一家人就是难得的机缘，尤其父母亲已经到了生命的终点，又有什么恩怨是放不下的呢？更要注意的是自己所作所为，儿女也看在眼里，千万莫做错误的示范啊！
爱的表达要及时，不要以为一定有明天！
2 条评论:
这个课题的讨论，在民情组（REACH）的网站有相关的讨论：
http://app.reach.gov.sg/reach/YourSay/REACHsDiscussionCorner/tabid/116/ptid/404/threadid/2212/forumtype/posts/Default.aspx
I agreed to MCYS that we must have this Maintenance of Parents Act. But, this act is only for those children who really don't care of their parents. For most of the children, I still see that they are taking good care of their parents. For some high educated children with high income and totally don't care of their parents, only this act can force them to take out some money for their parents.
For some children, they have a kind heart to take care of their parents, but they earn less income to support for themselves and their own family. This group of children is not blamed to be heartless children. They need our social scheme to help them and their parents.
But, most of the parents will not want to sue their children to the court because they think this will destroy the relationship of them. Some parents don't know there is this act there to protect them.
For social workers and staffs of MCYS when really want to help the parents to act for this act must also be very careful. There was one case happened few years ago, the middle age brother killed his sister at the car park of MCYS building. Both of them attended the court for this act.
More explaination and more public education to the parents are needed. The social workers and experienced counsellors need to provide effective counselling sessions for both children and parents before taking up this act. So as to prevent the above tragedy happen again.
If the parents were not taking good care of their children during their young time. they will not be able to use this act to claim money from their children now. This is to remind all the parents also must fulfill their role and responsibilities.
Finally, if come to the worst.......children earn less income and can't even survive themselves because of the high living costs in Singapore. Then, the govt. must start it social scheme to help the parents. Also, some kind hearted people may also come in and help. Many helping hand come together will be good. But, before all this helping hand come in, I would expect our govt. take initiative to provide a basic help first.
Also, mentally help and support to the needy people is more important. Let them know that even children don't want them, even she/he is now poor and no money to survive,
but there are still govt. and dear kind hearted people out there to support her/him.
Moral education is very much needed in school.
亲子关系走到这一步，需要动用法律来解决，实在是让人心寒的事。
但是，我支持需要有这样的法律，因为，一些有能力奉养父母，而完全不理会或遗弃父母的孩子们，是需要有这样的法律来牵制的。
一些年老的父母，犹如小童一样，无法保护自己，所以，我们需要有法律来保护他们。我们有儿童法律来保护儿童，为什么我们就不能有老人法律来保护老人呢？
有些孩子很孝顺，但是自己的收入不多，由要养自己的孩子，也无法给父母钱花，对于这些家庭，应该启动社会资源协助他们。
新加坡的生活成本越来越高，政府是有必要好好检讨现行的一些政策和启动社会的福利机制，好好帮助那些需要帮助的一群人。
让更多的家庭教育讲座和辅导普及化，深入每一个人的心中；在学校加强人文教育，让孩子从小就懂得人文关怀，将可大大减少孩子遗弃父母的悲剧发生。
社会要温馨，人人懂得关怀他人，就要从上而下做起。
感谢分享！
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