Laws to ensure the elderly are cared for coming

Health Minister Sir Mowlyn Joseph say the government intends to introduce legislation in Parliament to hold family members responsible for the care of their elderly relatives, who are often left to navigate life alone.

He expressed concern over the alarming trend where senior citizens are abandoned, left to struggle on their own while their family members continue to receive financial support meant for those in need.

In a disturbing number of instances, elderly individuals are admitted to hospitals for necessary medical treatment, only to be deserted afterward, left without the support and care they require.

This growing issue has raised significant alarms, prompting the need for legislative action to ensure that families fulfill their responsibilities towards their elderly loved ones.

“We are going to be taking legislation Parliament and the law is going to be the Abandonment and Neglect of the Elderly Act. These young people and family members who abandoned neglect their families,” Joseph said.

He added that it is pretty disappointing when families leave their loved ones at the hospital and do not look back.

Joseph insisted that it is the responsibility of younger people to take care of their elderly relatives.

“This is a society that we do not want in Antigua and Barbuda and we must tell our young people it was neve like that and until we get back to that situation where we get a sense of right and responsibility and it is our duty to help those who need help, the society will continue to go down,” Joseph said.