Elderly In Costa Rica Seen As Family's "Petty Cash"
Contrary to popular belief, in Costa Rica the children don't always maintain their parents when they reach retirement age. A new study shows that some 100.000 Costa Rican families live off the savings and pensions of their elderly family members.
The study "Primer Informe sobre la Persona Adulta Mayor" by the Centro Centroamericano de Población (CCP) of the Universidad de Costa Rica (UCR), shows that a third of the elderly in Costa Rica maintain up to 35% of the expenditures of their children, that includes paying for university tuition for their grandchildren and utility bills for the family.
The study took into account the responses of 2.000 senior citizens and numbers from the Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Censos (INEC).
The report reveals that is the case of the 100.000 Costa Ricans over the age of 65, a population that concerned itself with savings and now are earning interest, in addition have a pension and many continue to work.
Luis Rosero, director of the CCP and study coordinator, says this group has up to three sources of income and are easily converted into the "petty cash" of the family.
Rosero said that families with university age children finding it difficult to meet their financial burden often turn to older family members for assistance, and as such the senior assumes part of the family's economic burden.
Although in many cases the elderly make their financial contribution voluntarily, for Zulema Villalta, legal advisor to the Comisión Nacional de la Persona Adulta Mayor, the report indicates that there could be cases of abuse of the elderly.
Villalta says that in many times children abuse the situation.
Contrary to popular belief, in Costa Rica the children don't always maintain their parents when they reach retirement age. A new study shows that some 100.000 Costa Rican families live off the savings and pensions of their elderly family members.
The study "Primer Informe sobre la Persona Adulta Mayor" by the Centro Centroamericano de Población (CCP) of the Universidad de Costa Rica (UCR), shows that a third of the elderly in Costa Rica maintain up to 35% of the expenditures of their children, that includes paying for university tuition for their grandchildren and utility bills for the family.
The study took into account the responses of 2.000 senior citizens and numbers from the Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Censos (INEC).
The report reveals that is the case of the 100.000 Costa Ricans over the age of 65, a population that concerned itself with savings and now are earning interest, in addition have a pension and many continue to work.
Luis Rosero, director of the CCP and study coordinator, says this group has up to three sources of income and are easily converted into the "petty cash" of the family.
Rosero said that families with university age children finding it difficult to meet their financial burden often turn to older family members for assistance, and as such the senior assumes part of the family's economic burden.
Although in many cases the elderly make their financial contribution voluntarily, for Zulema Villalta, legal advisor to the Comisión Nacional de la Persona Adulta Mayor, the report indicates that there could be cases of abuse of the elderly.
Villalta says that in many times children abuse the situation.
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