Our elders don’t deserve to be in Old people’s home – Akbar

“Our elders don’t deserve to be in the old people’s home, they deserve to be with their family in their homes”.

These were the comments of the Minister for Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation Rosy Akbar while speaking during the opening of the senior citizens welfare day yesterday at Dudley Church.

Akbar told the elders present at the opening that each of them has contributed in countless ways and no one knows the true burden they persevered in over the many years of their lives.

Akbar said government has now established a National Council for Older Persons which is mandated to develop policies to improve services for older persons and also to enure that their rights are protected.

She said to date, 40,000 people are benefitting from the bus fare concession program.

Akbar said in the beginning of this year government provided funding for the Homes looking after the older persons, to ensure that they are properly cared for and protected.