More needs to be done to ensure that senior citizens are well-looked after as they have made significant contributions to who we are today.
Celebrating World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, Minister for Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation Rosy Akbar says the celebration aims to promote a better understanding of the abuse older people suffer by raising awareness of the cultural, social, economic, and demographic processes affecting them.
She says it is a time for families and individual Fijians to recommit and refocus on the care and respect of senior citizens.
Akbar says abuse of the elderly consists of physical, emotional, or sexual harm that is inflicted upon an older adult in their communities and families.
She adds it also includes exploiting their finances, or neglecting their welfare, especially by people who are responsible for their care.
The Minister says researchers have confirmed that the abusers are often adult children or other family members, and most cases are reported in at-home settings.
Akbar says abuse of elders will be successfully prevented only if we develop a culture that fosters inter-generational solidarity.
The Fijian Government has allocated $55.3 million for the Social Pension Scheme that provides allowances for persons aged 65 years and over who do not have any form of income or pension or have never been beneficiaries of a superannuation scheme.
For the last fiscal year, more than 46,996 senior citizens are benefiting from the Fijian Government’s Social Pension Scheme.
