THE PLIGHT OF THE ELDERLY

May 11, 2017 Editorial, Features / Columnists

Guyanese by tradition have always treasured the institution of family. Be it the nuclear family, extended or single parent household, members of any family unit were taught to love, respect and support one another in good and bad times.
It is our duty to treasure the elderly and not to see them as a burden unto us. But like everything else, caring for the elderly in their twilight years when they need it the most is fast becoming the exception rather than the norm for many of us.
Unfortunately, evidence of this surfaced earlier this month when 82-year-old Rudolph Ross perished in his house at Kildonan Village on the Corentyne by a fire allegedly set by his 50-year-old son, Colin Ross.
The recent death of Suresh Mangru of Garden of Eden is a sad reality and an appalling indictment on an increasingly selfish and uncaring population. Today, too many in society have dismissed the elderly without a careful thought about the sacrifices, achievements and contributions they have made to the development of the country.
Today, there is little respect and compassion for the elderly. It is said that the neglect and lack of compassion that some parents experience from their children have its origin in the parents’ failure to educate them or contribute to their upbringing.
But two wrongs cannot simply make a right. Children should prevent any indignity that befall their parents. The government has to bear some responsibility for the plight of the elderly in society. It is true that the moral strength of any society can be measured by the quality of care it gives to children and the elderly.
We should respect and cherish the elderly because they are the most precious and vulnerable group in society. It reflects poorly on all of us when the elderly is mistreated, not to mention children.
After 50 years of independence, the government is now drafting a strategic plan for elderly care in the country. Does this mean that the elderly were placed in facilities that were unregulated and without guidelines? Were they subject to abuse by caregivers, fed meals that did not cater to their dietary/nutritional needs and were deprived of adequate Medicare?
How could anyone who should be showing more love and respect for the elderly be so callous and uncaring? It is hard for any right-thinking person to even fathom that this is happening in society.Those who abuse or mistreat the elderlyshould be ashamed to know that it is on the backs of the elderly that they have been able to achieve a better life.
To abandon the elderly and to ignore their wants and general welfare are shameful. It is important for us to remember that growing old is a privilege, one which many may enjoy. Therefore, we need to treat our elderly with respect. We need to show them love as they transition to a stage where they need to be cared for.
While some may not have the means to provide adequately for their ageing parents or relatives, every effort must still be made to ensure that they are well looked after, fed properly and provided with adequate shelter and health care.
No effort must be spared to protect the elderly from abuse and abandonment. Those in authority should talk less and do more to make sure that those who ill-treat the elderly are charged and prosecuted.
Now is the time for us to ensure that the elderly are allowed to live out the rest of their years in comfort.

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