Appeal: Always go home and take a look. The elderly will sue the four daughters in court. People's Court | Elderly | Court
On the morning of August 2nd, the Supreme People's Court held a press conference to release typical cases of people's courts practicing socialist core values with fairness and efficiency, including a case of support disputes.
The plaintiff, Mr. Song, is over seventy years old and has four children, all of whom are now married. The plaintiff lives alone in government resettlement housing, lacks labor capacity, is weak and sickly, and mainly relies on a meager pension for their livelihood. Since being diagnosed with chronic kidney disease and cervical cancer, the plaintiff has spent a huge amount of medical expenses, making life increasingly difficult. The four children rarely visit and greet each other, and the plaintiff deeply feels the loneliness and desolation of their old age. Reunion with their children and grandchildren has become a luxury for the elderly, and they can only secretly shed tears. The plaintiff, Mr. Song, had no choice but to file a lawsuit in court, demanding that the four children often go home to see and provide them with spiritual comfort or call at least once a month to greet them.
The People's Court of Fengxin County, Jiangxi Province believes that family members should care about the spiritual needs of the elderly and should not ignore or neglect them. Parents can advocate for their children to fulfill their mental support obligations such as regular visits. The court ruled that the defendant Xiong and four others should visit or call the plaintiff Song at least once a month. Neither party has filed an appeal.
Respecting and loving the elderly is always a traditional virtue of the Chinese nation, and supporting the elderly is the responsibility and obligation of every citizen. With the aging of our society and the increasing number of empty nest elderly, the spiritual needs of the elderly are becoming increasingly prominent. Doing a good job in supporting elderly people living alone is a long-term and arduous task, which involves more complex mental support issues and is also a sensitive social issue. The support for the elderly, whether to pay them the necessary money for their daily lives, is not the only criterion for measurement, but also includes emotional comfort and companionship for the elderly. Family members should care about the spiritual needs of the elderly, and family members who live separately from the elderly should "often go home to see.".
The Supreme Court believes that in this case, the people's court guided the children to fulfill their spiritual comfort obligations to the elderly through a combination of reason and reason. The court ruled that the children should visit or call the plaintiff Song at least once a month to ensure that children living in different cities can achieve "close proximity" with the elderly, effectively ensuring the physical and mental health and peaceful life of the elderly, enhancing family harmony, and promoting socialist core values.