You may want to hug your elderly mother or grandmother a little tighter today as we observe Elder Abuse Awareness Day. Many senior citizens right here in Belize deal with physical, financial, mental, and emotional abuse, likely perpetrated by their own loved ones or by caretakers hired by the family.
Today, we spoke with the executive director of HelpAge who explained that today is a day to reflect on whether the country has done enough for elderly persons to live a dignified life.
Ivorine Bulwer, Executive Director, HelpAge Belize
"I'm reflecting on the 25,000 plus elders in Belize. The these for Elder Abuse Day is access to justice and you reflect on abuse, we're looking at physical abuse, financial abuse, emotional abuse, and also the aspect of neglect and the theme is so fitting because we recognize that our older persons are experiencing a lot of financial challenges. A number of them have saved and prepared for old age but then at this time they are being exploited. Some of them reach a stage of being dependent and they're being exploited. You look at the access to health, they're fundamental rights to healcare, do we have programs in place to ensure that our older persons live a dignified life? is that justice? You look at the aspect of where do they access legal support, do we have agencies in place? So today is a day for reflection, what do we have in place for our older persons, to ensure that they live a dignified life?"
Bulwer also delved into what constitutes abuse and neglect - including something as simple as not allowing an elderly person access to basic healthcare and screening for non-communicable diseases.
Ivorine Bulwer, Executive Director, HelpAge Belize
"You don't bathe them, you don't ensure that there are fed, you don't ensure that they are turned, you don't ensure that they're basic hygiene needs are met that is considered physical abuse and neglect because if you don't bathe and turn them, they can develop bed sores, that is neglect. If you feed them and ensure that they have enough fluids, that leads to dehydration, so what we often see at home is this physical abuse. We see the aspect of not meeting their nutritional needs, when it comes to their health needs, are we ensuring that they are getting dignostics screening to ensure breast health, to ensure that the older men have their prostate checks? We also see that we have a situation with non communicable disease, we're talking about diabetes and hypertension and other, are we ensuring that they are well screened? And it's concerning because we see so many of them with amputations. So those are some practical things that we can bring to the general public."
Bulwer mentioned that since the pandemic, there has been an increase in reports of elder abuse in Belize. She noted that younger persons can look out for senior citizens in their community by assisting them with everyday chores or food.
