Lead a life with their family, whereas other school of thought holds

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  Some people think that grandparents should live together with their children and grandchildren, while others say that elderly should be encouraged to live independently. Discuss both views and give your opinion.
  

Grandparents are often suggested to lead a life with their family, whereas other school of thought holds that living on their own would be more beneficial for them. I will examine both these opinions, and explain why I feel that living with a family can be fore fulfilling for the elderly.

Proponents, myself included, of the idea that living with a family may come in handy for the aged populations have some reasonable arguments. To begin with, generally, when individuals get older, they may seek affection from people around. Should they have caregivers, such as their children and grandchildren, they can hopefully receive more emotional support and get rid of a sense of isolation. As this can entitle them to release depression or stress, it can be extremely positive for their well-being, thus increasing their longevity to some extent. Additionally, since grandparents usually live off their family, they do not necessarily have to shoulder the cost of living, which might have otherwise been a real burden.

Nonetheless, others support an independent way of living for senior citizens, they state that this enables grandparents to be more self-reliant, and this might boost their self-esteem, which would guard against a common mental decline in the elderly. Furthermore, these days, young families tend to live in small houses due to their tight budget. Therefore, in order not to put extra financial burden on them, grandparents had better live on their own. Ironically, doing so could possibly improve the harmony, and provide enjoyment for them because it may allow grandparents to have their family visiting them, for instance, in special occasions or family gatherings. That being said, these points seem to be rather absurd for me, because older people’s physical and mental weakness and busy lifestyle of their family would not allow the aforementioned opportunities.

In conclusion, whether grandparents should reside with their family or by themselves is partly a matter of debate. Personally, I believe that they ought to live with their extended family as they might reap emotional and financial benefits.