Task 2
You should spend about 40 minutes on this task. Write about the following topic:
| In Britain, when someone gets old they often go to live in a home with other old people where there are nurses to look after them. Sometimes the government has to pay for this care. Who do you think should pay for this care, the government or the family? Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience. |
Write at least 250 words
| Who Should Pay for Elderly Care? In countries like Britain, many old people eventually move into care homes where they are looked after by nurses. This necessary care is often very expensive, leading to a big question about who should cover the costs: the government or the family. While families have a moral duty to help, I believe that the main financial responsibility for essential long-term care must belong to the government. The strongest argument for state funding relates to the social contract. During their working lives, citizens pay taxes to the government. These taxes are meant to fund the country’s social services and welfare systems, which includes support for people when they are retired or sick. The cost of a professional care home is simply too high for the average family to manage. If families were forced to pay everything, they would quickly lose all their life savings or even have to sell their home. It would be unfair if only rich families could afford good quality care for their elderly relatives, while poor families could not. The government, by using public money, can ensure that every citizen is treated with dignity and receives basic care, regardless of their family’s wealth. For example, if national healthcare systems included long-term care, it would prevent the financial disaster many families face today. However, the family still has an important role to play. If the elderly person or their children have a lot of money and assets, they should be expected to contribute a part of the costs. This is often done through a means-test system. This ensures that public funds can be saved for those who truly need them. Furthermore, the family must always provide emotional support, regular visits, and cover the smaller, personal costs that state funding might not include. This combines public and private responsibility. In summary, although wealthy families should help contribute financially based on what they can afford, the large, essential costs of full-time elderly accommodation and nursing should be covered primarily by the government. This is the only way to guarantee a fair and dignified retirement for all citizens. |
Bài viết đạt điểm cao hơn:
| The Burden of Care: Funding for Elderly Residential Homes The demographic shift towards an ageing population across many developed nations, including Britain, has brought the critical issue of long-term elderly care funding into sharp focus. As more individuals require accommodation in specialized residential homes staffed by professional nurses, a vigorous debate arises over whether the financial responsibility should be borne primarily by the government, the immediate family, or the individual. While families certainly bear a moral and supplementary obligation, I strongly contend that the fundamental cost of essential long-term care must be primarily covered by the state. The core argument for government funding lies in the concept of the social contract. Throughout their working lives, citizens contribute substantially to the national economy through direct and indirect taxation. This collective contribution is meant, in part, to fund a comprehensive welfare state that offers support at critical junctures, particularly in retirement and old age. Relying solely on families would be highly inequitable, as the cost of residential care is exorbitant, often leading to the complete depletion of a family’s savings or even forced property sales. For lower-income households, this reliance is simply unviable. If the government, through public funds, ensures a dignified level of care for all citizens regardless of their family’s financial solvency, it upholds the principle of equitable access to social services. For example, countries with strong universal healthcare systems, such as Nordic nations, integrate long-term care heavily into their state budgets to prevent such financial ruin. However, the family’s role cannot be entirely dismissed. Where the elderly individual or their family possesses significant accumulated wealth or substantial assets, a means-tested approach should require an initial or supplementary contribution. This ensures that public funds are reserved for those genuinely in need, preventing wealthier individuals from imposing an unnecessary fiscal burden on taxpayers. Furthermore, the family retains an indispensable moral obligation to provide emotional and administrative support, covering minor expenses or personalized comforts that might not be included in basic state-funded care packages. This collaborative model acknowledges both civic duty and personal responsibility. In conclusion, while affluent families should certainly contribute based on their financial capacity, the massive, non-negotiable expense of full-time nursing and accommodation for the elderly must be treated as a social welfare issue. Therefore, the primary financial burden should rest with the government, ensuring that old age is met with security and dignity, rather than financial stress and dependence. |