Minister of Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation Mereseini Vuniwaqa says the increasing number of residents in aged care homes speaks volumes of social issues that need to be addressed not only on a national level but more importantly as family units.
While speaking at the International Day of Older Persons Celebration at the Labasa Golden Age Home Vuniwaqa says we now have three aged care homes around the country and we also have non-governmental organisations and religious bodies who have set up home for the elderly.
There are 30 residents in the Labasa Golden Age Home with the oldest being 75 years old and one resident who has lived there for the past 26 years.
She says in another two or three decades the responsibility of looking after the aged population should go back to the family unit.
She says Government intervenes when there is an issue of national importance that needs to be addressed.
She adds the Ministry is working towards this as a long term strategy by empowering communities and families to look after the elderly within their homes.
The Minister says they have partnered with APTC by providing care giving training to communities starting with rural areas and maritime zones to empower them to look after the elderly or disabled within their own homes.
The Minister adds sometimes we tend to forget the contribution our close loved ones and our families have made to get us where we are today.
She says its not a very easy experience for her when she visits these homes and gets to hear the stories of the parents in the homes particularly when they tell her that they still have children living in this country but they don’t get to see them as visitors in the home.
The Minister says that says a lot about what we have become as a nation in relation to taking care of those we love.
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