Let’s treat Our elderly With respect And dignity
The national census of 2017 said Fiji’s older population comprised of 9.1 per cent of the total population.
It’s highly likely that this figure has increased given that medical services are getting better and better and campaigns for healthy living are going on all the time. While the Government is applauded for helping our senior citizens, the spotlight has been turned on families and relatives of our elderly. Government has doubled their pension from $50 to $100 per month and around 44,781 older persons have benefited from this scheme.
Every old person aged 60-plus qualifies to benefit from the bus fare concession by the Government and the Fiji Bus Operators Association.
It is sad to hear stories from some elderly who had expressed their wish to stay with their families, but they had been placed in homes because they had become a burden. Some have been forgotten by their relatives after being dropped there.
The younger generation’s responsibility is to look after their elderly because everyone will grow old and need similar care.
Elderly people are who they will become one day. The younger generation should respect their wisdom, knowledge, grace and fortitude, but it is sad that it isn’t the case.
Sometimes we need to remind them why it is so important to respect our elders. They still possess the inclination to serve the society and they have the willingness to share their rich experience with everyone and through their ability, to help ease their journey through life. They should always be respected the way the younger generation wants to be respected. Senior citizens have a wealth of experience and knowledge to pass on to younger generations.
A social worker said for many years, it was common practice to give up one’s seat to an older adult in a crowded bus. That’s still a good policy, as is holding the door to let a senior adult enter or exit and offering assistance when a task may seem beyond the abilities of a senior, such as lifting a heavy load. Respect their feelings while you do so because you don’t want to them to think they are infirm or incapable of doing things for themselves.
The celebration to mark the International Day of Older Persons is a timely reminder that we need to respect our senior citizens. They deserve to enjoy the rest of their lives with dignity. We cannot put them in state homes and forget them.