Final answer:
Cultural attitudes towards aging affect how elderly care is perceived and managed, with some cultures emphasizing family responsibility, while others rely more on institutions and government support. The shift from agrarian to industrial societies has influenced these practices, and economic factors often dictate who is financially responsible for elderly care.
Step-by-step explanation:
The cultural attitudes toward aging and the responsibilities towards elderly care vary significantly across different cultures. For instance, in China, the concept of filial piety strongly influences the expectation that family members will care for their aging relatives. In contrast, in the United States, there is a more individualistic view of elderly care, and the responsibility often shifts towards institutions for various reasons, such as the inability of working family members to provide the necessary care or the financial constraints of outsourcing professional healthcare.
In agrarian societies, the care of aging parents was usually managed within the extended family, with elderly members contributing to the household. However, with the shift toward industrial and service economies, younger generations seeking employment in urban areas are less available to provide in-home care, leading to an increase in the reliance on assisted living and other facilities.
Regarding who is financially responsible for elderly care, it varies by culture and socio-economic status. In Asia, families primarily bear this responsibility, whereas in Western societies, there is a mix of personal, familial, and governmental responsibility depending on the individual's financial situation and health condition.