Our elderly must be protected

BY now many Barbadians are well aware of the video circulating with an elderly lady in a nursing home being verbally and physically abused by a person who had been charged with taking care of her.

 

While the individual has been fired and a case is said to be soon brought before the law courts on the matter, the underlying issue of the care of the elderly in this island is once again under scrutiny.

 

In several columns, I have spoken on the disturbing fact that there are persons out there who treat their elderly relatives as though they are little more than hated animals.

 

It seems that some persons have little patience, or even the inclination to take care of senior citizens in a manner which is becoming of a person who in their own small or large way made a contribution to the development of this island.

 

In fact, it seems as though there are several who find some manner of glee in taking out their frustrations on these individuals, in the same way that some do with young children. This practice needs to stop!

 

A returning national came back to Barbados a few years ago to build a wall around one section of his land rather than repair the derelict home of his 75-year-old mother, or even build a bathroom as the structure only had a pit toilet, leaving her to walk cane-assisted outside each night to use it. When taken to task by neighbours on the decision, he shouted that his mother was soon going to die anyway and he did not want anyone walking on his land, as though it was gold that could be taken away. Unfortunately, the elderly lady passed away at 88, still having to make the trek into the pit toilet, in spite of becoming blind in one eye, increasingly unsteady on her feet, and having her home fall down around her.

 

Such a form of negligence is one that should not be ignored, but reported to an outfit charged solely with protecting our seniors, who often fall at the back of the line behind children and women when considering the vulnerable in our society.

 

There are many other stories out there of abuse, and multiple others of a “don’t-careish” attitude by the siblings, children and grandchildren of elderly citizens who basically view seniors as nuisances and who are simply waiting for them to pass on so they could inherit their land, or homes.

 

In several cases, persons hold a deep-seated anger because a particular parent appeared to love one of their siblings more than them, or that parent was a “wicked person” and they see these frail years as ones for payback. Whether it be negligence, or any form of abuse, it is time to see such individuals be held accountable for these actions.

 

The fact that this most recent story occurred in what should have been a safe environment for the elderly lady, means that there should be a stronger form of inspection of all nursing homes – whether private or public, and a vigorous vetting of individuals who would hold the responsibility of their care. Because a person has qualifications does not mean that they have the correct mentality to handle the job.

 

Let us ensure that with an ageing population and a growing number of centenarians, that our seniors are treated with as much dignity in their latter years as their younger counterparts.