FIGHTING ELDER ABUSE

GOVERNMENT is stepping up its game in handling reported elderly abuse cases.

Minister of Social Care, Constituency Empowerment and Community Development, Steven Blackett, announced yesterday that the National Assistance Board, in conjunction with the National Planning Committee for Older Persons, have created a Draft National Protocol for Prevention, Reporting, Investigation and Management of Elder Abuse.

He said, this protocol, along with the National Policy on Aging promote safeguarding the rights of older persons, procuring legal protection where it is not now provided and helping to create an environment that is safe and free from exploitation and abuse. The protocol is currently being revised within the Ministry and will be submitted for consideration of the Cabinet, in a short while.
“My Ministry, through the National Assistance Board, has been compiling documents, reports and evidence which indicate that family dynamics is a significant contributing factor to elder abuse, particularly in cases of neglect and financial abuse.

“With this revelation, one can conclude that older persons who are abused or neglected do not exist in isolation. They are in our families, our neighbourhoods, our churches and our communities,” he said.

Therefore, raising awareness of these occurrences is important, as well as educating on the need for vigilance in reporting abuse to the relevant authorities.

“We are targeting faith-based organisations, members of civil society organisations, corporate Barbados, non-governmental organisations and the media to help us to achieve this goal,” the Minister added.

Blackett was speaking at the Whitepark Wesleyan Holiness Church, Whitepark Road, St. Michael, where a service was held to observe World Elder Abuse Awareness Day.

The Minister stated that the 2012 San Jose Charter on the Rights of Persons in Latin America and the Caribbean, to which Barbados is a signatory, not only emphasised the obligation of Government to eradicate the various forms of abuse, but it underscored several key actions which are necessary for elimination of elder abuse.

“These include the implementation of policies and procedures to prevent and eradicate the various types of abuse and neglect, and to establish mechanisms for the prevention, supervision and strengthening of any legal mechanisms in order to prevent any type of violence against older persons,” he said.

Also attending the service were Dame Maizie Barker-Welch and Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Social Care, Constituency Empowerment and Community Development Janet Phillips, as well as National Assistance Board officials and workers.
(AH)