Academic Writing 2

Assignment : Argumentative Essay

School : University of Technology

Course : Academic Writing II

Group Members:

● Domonique Rose – 1807822 (Member 4 - Refutation, APA List and Essay Formatting)

● Karim Walters – 2002648 (Member 2 - Claim 2 and Editing)

● Shanae Montaque – 1804632 (Member 1 - Introduction and Claim 1)

● Dewen Gordon – 2101691 (Member 3 - Counter and Conclusion)

Essay Topic: Adult children should be responsible for the care and protection of their elderly
parents. Agree or Disagree?

Thesis statement: Adult children should not be held responsible to care for nor protect their
elderly parents due to the negative psychological effects and cost implications associated with
doing so.

II. Adult children should not be held responsible to care for nor protect their elderly parents due
to the negative psychological effects.

A. Clinical observation and early empirical research showed that assuming a caregiving role
can be stressful and burdensome (Schulz, 2009).
B. As a caregiver, you are at risk for depression. Sometimes this is feeling hopeless or
helpless, the inability to sleep, or trouble getting up and facing the day (Schempp, 2014).

III. Adult children should not be held responsible to care for and or protect their elderly parents
due to the cost implications associated with doing so.

A. Study findings around family caregiving have suggested that many family caregivers of
frail elders experience financial strain associated with providing that care (San Antonio et
al., 2006).
 B. Caregiving affects a caregiver’s work and family financials, such as balancing a job and
providing care to family members (Haddock, Zimmerman, Lyness & Ziemba, 2006).

Counterclaim

Despite my position, there are some persons who subscribe to the notion that adult children

should be held responsible for the care and protection of their elderly parents based on the moral

reasoning that our parents cared for us when we were completely helpless and in need and that

the parents need a sense of belongingness and purpose.

A. It was postulated that common morality perceives a cross-cultural expectation that

children are morally obligated, to some degree, to provide care for their aging parents

(Theixos, 2013).

B. Loneliness is an issue many adults face in their senior years, putting them at a higher risk

of developing age-related health conditions as well as depression. However, regular

interactions with their family members can boost the mental, physical, and emotional

health of older adults (Ratana, 2019). (Needs review)

Refutation

Although it is believed, from a moral standpoint, that adult children are responsible for their

elderly parents who once cared for them, it is irrefutable that this is not their responsibility.

(should go against what counterclaim is saying)

A. Moral responsibility to caring for an aging parent cannot be governed by law. It is

important for adult children to freely make such decisions (Giberovitch, May 2019).

(good)

B. While regular interaction can reduce emotional stress and loneliness, caregiving can

cause physical, emotional and mental strain on the adult child. (Kane, 2018) (does not hit

point made in counterclaim)

References

Donna Schempp. ( December 19,2014). Emotional side of caregiving. Family Caregiver

Alliance. https://www.caregiver.org/resource/emotional-side-caregiving/

Referencing Example
Schulz, R., & Sherwood, P. R. (2008). Physical and mental health effects of family caregiving.
The American journal of nursing, 108(9 Suppl), 23–27.
https://doi.org/10.1097/01.NAJ.0000336406.45248.4cKang S.Y (2020). Financial strain
among unpaid family caregivers of frail elders in community
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/10911359.2020.1799900?af=R&

Lai D. (2012). Effect of Financial Costs on Caregiving Burden of Family Caregivers of Older
Adults https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/2158244012470467#_i1

Theixos, H. (2013). Adult Children and Eldercare: the moral considerations of filial obligations.

University of Miami. https://www.quod.lib.umich.edu

Ratana, A. (May 20, 2019). The Importance of Family in a Senior’s Life. Home Care Assistance.

https://www.homecareassistancedenver.com

Daniels, N. (1988). Am I my parents’ keeper? An essay on Justice between the young and the
old. New York : Oxford University Press

Kane E, “Am I Responsible for My Elderly Parent? Legally and Morally?” (Senior Safety
AdviceOctober 6, 2021) https://seniorsafetyadvice.com/am-i-responsible-for-my-elderly-
parent/&gt accessed October 31, 2021

Giberovitch M and others, “Coping with the Challenges of Adult Children Taking Care of Aging
Parents” (July 9, 2020)

https://www.youareunltd.com/2019/05/01/coping-with-the-challenges-of-adult-children-taking-
care-of-aging-parents/&gt accessed October 31, 2021