A question sent to me by a reader was, "How are the Elderly treated in Mexico?"

Our personal observation has been that they are venerated to the point of being called sages. I have heard more than once of Mexican young people referring to their Elderly relatives as sages.

I recall the first time hearing a young 26-year old Spanish teacher of mine calling her abuela (grandmother) a sage. I almost cried. Could there still be a culture where the Elderly aren't considered as so much chattel to be discarded as an old coat; to be locked away when someone perceives their usefulness to be over?

The property on which we live is owned by La Señora Martha Carrillo. It is a huge complex with several houses in which her sons and their families, and your humble columnist, lives.

Martha had to raise her four children alone since she was 32 years old. Her husband died of a brain tumor leaving her to raise these kids. She not only accomplished this monumental feat but built a real estate empire to help support herself and to provide for her sons when they had their own families.

Martha's time is now spent managing the rental properties and taking care of her 89-year-old mother. Martha is 69. She does this with a strength rare among men much less women. She labors day and night with her rental properties and with her mother.

She does not complain.

When her mother's needs become too overwhelming Martha is patient but finds other activities to take her mind off the constant demanding needs of her mother. She would never in a million years lock her mother away. Never!

We see, in the community, this being played over and over again. We see the younger ones taking their mothers and fathers by the hand and escorting them to one of the Plazas for an outing, to the doctor, to get their hair done, or just to get out.

A tearful sight I once witnessed was a young 16-year-old boy who had his grandfather by the hand walking him. The viejo (old man) told the boy to go be with his friends who were calling him from across the street. The boy said to his grandfather, "No, I'd rather be with you, abuelito."

This is typically Mexican.

No matter the social status in Mexico, no matter your economic standing, caring for your elderly relations is considered the sole responsibility of the family. And by God, it sure should be! "Since pre-Hispanic times, family links in Mexico have been extremely strong and as a result care-giving of the elderly, sick and poor is a socially recognized responsibility of the family, including all members of the extended family." [1]

I fear happening in Mexico what happened in America. Some of the younger Mexicans are beginning to do what Americans did. When Mama becomes too inconvenient then her needs suffer while the younger ones go off to do their own thing. This trend is starting. [2]

Mexico currently has some government, workplace, and community services for those 60 years and older. The indigenous person, however, as is always the case, hasn't the access because of their remote locations.

I've quoted this before but it sure bears repeating:

"It was once said that the moral test of Government is how that Government treats those who are in the dawn of life, the children; those who are in the twilight of life, the elderly; and those who are in the shadows of life, the sick, the needy and the handicapped."

Hubert H. Humphrey (1911 - 1978)

[1] Elderly Care Across the Globe; Natasha Curry; http://www.careguide.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=CG_Resources&file=article&sid=965 [2] Ibid

Doug Bower is a freelance writer and book author. His most recent writing credits include The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, The Houston Chronicle, and The Philadelphia Inquirer, and Transitions Abroad. He lives with his wife in Guanajuato, Mexico.

His new book, Mexican Living: Blogging it from a Third World Country, can be seen at http://www.lulu.com/content/126241