More people want to drop elderly at state-run homes: Social Welfare Director

There are at least 10 applications or phone calls in a week to the Golden Age Home in Samabula, Suva, enquiring about spaces.

Director for Social Welfare Rupeni Fatiaki said it is saddening that people are wanting to drop their senior citizens in the home. He said the home was at full capacity at the moment.

“One of the most common reasons they are given to us is that the senior citizens need care which they (families) cannot provide given the current lifestyle,” Mr Fatiaki said.

“It is the breakdown of the family units. “Fijians pride themselves in their families and traditionally that the elderly are taken care of. But this is fast changing. I guess this is also a cost of changing lifestyles.

“The elderly are better looked after in villages and rural settings compared to urban areas.”

55 residents are at the Golden Age Home in Suva. There are 136 residents in the three State-funded Golden Age Homes in Suva, Lautoka and Labasa. Breakdown by ethnicity shows 105 are Fijians of Indian descent, while 27 are iTaukei.

Mohammed Ali Maqbool has been a board member of the Golden Age Home, Suva since 2002.

He said the board was trying to cut down the number of people in the Golden Age Home.

“The senior citizens’ numbers have increased over the years. And we can see a trend where more and more people are leaving their elderly relatives in State care,” he said.

“Elder citizens can continue to contribute positively towards the nations. There is a lot of experience out there.

“We are thankful to the Government for their support.”

According to the Social Welfare Department, the most vulnerable in Fiji are senior citizens over the age of 60 and children.