Safeguard our elders

THE EDITOR, Madam:

As a social worker, I was deeply disturbed by the revelations in the Jamaica Observer’s article ‘Evil to the elderly’, published on May 14. The accounts of elder abuse ranging from financial exploitation to physical neglect are not just isolated incidents. They are symptomatic of a systemic failure to protect our senior citizens.

The Caribbean Community of Retired Persons (CCRP) highlighted harrowing cases: an elderly man found starving after his accounts were drained by a manipulative partner, and caregivers who embezzle funds from those they are meant to support. These stories are not anomalies; they are distressingly common in the social work profession.

Despite the drafting of a Green Paper for a National Policy for Senior Citizens 2018 , there has been little progress in implementing concrete measures. This inaction is not just bureaucratic oversight, it is a moral failing that leaves our elders vulnerable.

To address this crisis, the Ministry of Health and Wellness and the Ministry of Labour and Social Security should hire more qualified social workers. These professionals are essential in identifying, preventing, and intervening in cases of elder abuse.

Further, the establishment of a dedicated Elder Abuse Court and a Commission for the Elderly, as recommended by the CCRP, would provide the necessary legal framework to protect our seniors. These bodies should have the authority to investigate abuse, access financial records when necessary, and hold perpetrators accountable.

Elders are the bedrock of the society, having contributed to the nation’s development through their labour, wisdom, and sacrifices. Allowing them to suffer in silence is a betrayal of our collective values.

It is imperative that we act now to safeguard the dignity and well-being of our senior citizens. Their protection should not be an afterthought but a national priority.

CIVANNA COTTERELL