Last night we showed you the shocking video of an emaciated elderly man struggling to enter a shed, all the while being watched by a family member, and once he's inside she proceeds to lock him in.
It's a blatant example of elder abuse and one that Ivorine Bulwer, Executive Director of Helpage Belize says cast some light on the all too common plight of senescence.
Ivorine Bulwer - Executive Director, HelpAge Belize
"I am happy that the general public has been exposed to that experience because we have got to recognize that that was visible, it was observed but there are many cases of abuse that are not visible because abuse, there are different forms of abuse, abuse takes place inside the home and we have got to look at those different forms of abuse, we're talking about physical that was a physical one, that was an emotional one but there are also financial abuses and there are also sexual abuses and there is also the neglect of older persons. This scenario with physical abuse helpage was quite responsive in addressing the issue and I need to share that yesterday there was a meeting in Belmopan at the Hazel Hutchinson centre and that meeting comprises representatives from the police from Ministry of Human development, the national council of aging and the love foundation and that meeting the outcome, outcomes from that meeting address the social welfare of that older person, the counselling required for the family and at the same time to look at a facility because the older person will be looking with another family member and so they are looking at accommodation the nutritional aspect and the counselling perspective. Helpage Belize we are familiar with this gentleman he was a member of HelpAge. He is going to be removed from that home and he will be living with another family member, I think it's the granddaughter he will be staying with and they are going to set up accommodation for, I think it's the love foundation who will be assisting in that aspect."
Bulwer also told us that COVID-19 has exposed a number of gaps in the overall wellbeing of vulnerable older persons with the Pandemic undoubtedly increasing occurrences of abuse and neglect.
The National Council of Aging also issued a statement saying, quote "The recent posting of a video depicting an older person being mistreated by his caregiver is an ugly reminder of the struggle being faced by some older persons in our country. The National Council on Ageing condemns all acts of violence, neglect, and abuse against older persons. This includes the desensitized distribution of material in any form that highlights the abuse of any person without protecting their identity or autonomy."
The public is urged to report all forms of abuse, neglect, and domestic violence to the Police Department and or the Department of Human Services.
