Elderly abuse concern

The growing number of reported cases of elderly abuse is a cause for concern, and Chairperson of the National Committee for Ageing Seniors, Sylvester Niles, revealed that there are plans to implement a national policy to protect the elderly against such abuse.

Speaking during a luncheon for senior citizens at Folkestone Park yesterday afternoon, Niles told The Barbados Advocate that the Ministry of Social Care, Constituency Empowerment and Community Development has established a national policy on ageing, noting that a special committee was established to make recommendations towards the policy.

“It’s meant to protect them in nursing homes and ensure that there is no form of abuse towards them in terms of finance, physical conditions and nutrition,” he explained.

“There was a little lull in the meeting of the committee but we are beginning in earnest from Tuesday. We’ve spent a lot of time looking at the policy and coming up with recommendations,” he said.

He explained that there were instances where he learned of some physical abuse in some nursing homes, even private nursing homes, that were extremely concerning to him.

“You would have some instances where people have been denied adequate nutrition, where you would find that the [food] that they have is reserved for 50 people and that is completely inadequate,” he said.

He revealed that there were also instances where certain senior citizens were pushed into giving their caregivers extra benefits on their behalf.

“So we want to have legislation to prevent these things from happening,” he said.