Should the age limits on adopting children be lifted?

Question

It does make me wonder when there are so many, be it elder parents who want children but who are denied come against a brick wall.

Views on adoptive maximum ages, ta.

Answer 1

i think that 18 year olds should be allowed to adopt, if their living standards are up to par..

ex: they have a home, car, reliable/stable job, and have a nice income that can provide for a child.

but now you have to be at least 25, and sometimes you can be 22.. but if you adopt from Russia, you have to be 16 years older than the child you are adopting.. which still means that if you want to adopt a 4 year old your still looking at 20

Answer 2

Hi LBJ,

Thanks for asking our views.  I'm not sure the maximum parental age for adoptive children should be lifted, especially for very young children.  For older children, their views should be considered in the matter.

Speaking as a mom, it takes a lot of physical & mental energy to keep up with young children.  Some older people may have that much energy.  On the average they don't, plus other health concerns increase with advanced age.  Children available for adoption have already lost their first parents.  It would be tragic for them to lose another set before they reach adulthood.  Sure, some people die young & some people die old.  Statistics on average life expectancies are what's used there.

I know that some grandparents have done fantastic jobs raising their grandchildren.  When this happens, it's usually out of necessity, not the Plan A.  If we are talking about a child who is a relative of the older person, then yes, I agree that the child would be better off with them than with younger parents who are strangers.  

The way that nature intends for people to raise their children is in their young adult years.  (considering the possible reproductive years for women.)  If there were 2 families equal in every way except for their ages, I believe the younger family would be preferable to adopt a particular child, due to them having more average years left & more energy to offer the child.  If it's between an adult over the maximum age, that the child would like to be adopted by, or no family at all, then in those cases, it could be considered.

Children can still have older people involved in their lives without being adopted by them.  I do believe that older people have many other positive things to offer children.  Adoption must continue to be what is best for a child.  Those are the reasons why I think the maximum age of their adoptive parents should not necessarily be lifted for all adoptions.

julie j

reunited adoptee

Answer 3

No they should not.   Adoptees have already lost one set of parents.  The last thing they need is their ancient adopters kicking the bucket before the adoptee becomes an adult - how cruel.

Answer 4

Good question.  I think that it should be reasonably expected that the adoptive parents would be alive and healthy long enough for the child to reach adulthood.  Obviously, barring accidents and other unforseen circumstances.  If the adoptive parents are pushing that age expectancy limit, then the health of the parents should be taken into consideration.

I've met some 60+ year olds that ride in bike marathons, take no perscription medications at all, and have a lower blood pressure than I do.  

But I've met 40 year olds with several chronic conditions, takes a laundry list of meds, and probably won't live another 20 years.  

Healthy 50 year old adopting a 10 year old, sure.

80 year old adopting an infant, no.

Answer 5

no way jose or hose B what eva you call your self sherif

Answer 6

I think as you grow old you do not have the energy and patience to bring up children and discipline them.

Also, it is about taking care vs life span too.

Answer 7

no, 18 is fine

Answer 8

I don't agree with the maximum ages being 40 years older than the child.  People are living longer now, sometimes it takes forever to get approved and by the time you get approved you are over the age limit.  I think it should be lifted, I agree you don't want a 60 year old adopting an infant for obvious reasons, but I don't see why someone who is 45 can't.

Answer 9

I agree with the first answer.  Older people have more life experiences, wisdom to offer.  But with age also comes the possibility of ill health.  Also you dont have as much as you did when younger, which you need to have with a younger child.

Answer 10

With age comes wisdom, so all should be considered. The age will go against the person because of possible death and the child being orphaned again but some children spend their whole youth in endless homes with emotional scars to match. A little tender love for a short time is better than none :(