The Dominican government is working hard to eradicate all forms of elder abuse in the country, while the Dominica Council on Ageing revealed it is also working to register all centenarians on the island. Dr. Adis King, the minister tasked with making life easier for seniors in the country, said elder abuse is ugly and reprehensible and must be stamped out at all costs.
Dr. King made this call during the World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD) which held globally on Monday, June 15.
According to the minister, elder abuse comes in various forms and these range from family neglect, sexual harrassment, financial deprivation, physical assaults, and emotional abuse among others. She urged all Dominicans to declare war against elder assaults, adding that the government is also implementing all resources to improve the welfare of senior citizens.
King identified some of the areas the government is working to improve the lots of elderly ones in the country. Under the “Yes We Care” social programme set up to care for senior citizens, she listed better housing programmes, free medical privileges, monthly allowance payments, and social integration as part of government efforts to create a level of independence for elderly citizens.
While calling on all members of society to complement government initiatives at improving the welfare of seniors in the country, King made it clear that elder abuse does not affect old people alone but all persons in the society. She urged everyone to remain vigilant and to report any cases of elder abuse in the communities to the authorities.
Let us not fool ourselves and think that elder abuse affects only certain sectors of society. Persons in the lower status of life are prime victims, but because of the diverse nature of elder abuse and the various ways these can be manipulated, all elders are at risk.
Dr. Adis King: Cabinet Minister
President of the Dominica Council on Ageing, Ophelia Marie, said the organization is working on a magazine that will list all centenarians in Dominica and also highlight their lives and achievements to the country and beyond.
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