‘Still time to take your loved ones home’
NINETY-FIVE per cent of the residents in the agedcare homes around Fiji are Fijians of Indian descent, says Minister for Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation Rosy Akbar.
Speaking at the Mother’s Day celebration for the Golden Age Home Samabula residents last week, she said mothers deserved the highest level of respect.
She said looking at the residents, it was evident that they were longing to be with their families.
“The tears that we see today (Saturday) is genuine, it’s coming from the heart because they are remembering their loved ones.
“You are missing your sons and daughters, don’t do it, when they didn’t think about you so you don’t think about them too.”
She said there was still time for families to take back their relatives in the aged-care homes.
“But I’m sure in all these years, they have not thought of you.
“And the funny thing is that when one of them passes away, all these families come, wanting to have a funeral - why, to reduce their sins.
“We have said it before, we’ll look after you and when you pass away, we will give you the dignified final goodbye.
“These families don’t even have an ounce of shame left when they come and fight for the body to be buried. “There’s still time.” She said it was ‘shameful’ that children were not caring for their parents.
“May the Almighty give sense to the children whom you have given birth and raised and it’s still not too late.”
Ms Akbar assured the Golden Age Home residents the Government was there to look after them.
The mothers of the Golden Age Home Samabula were treated to a lunch gathering to make them feel special.