Dominica to host 3rd conference on Aging and Elder Abuse

By Caribbean Medical News Staff
A conference to discuss issues affecting the elderly will be convened in Dominica from November 30th to December 1st, 2015.
The 3rd Caribbean Conference on Ageing, Elder Abuse and the Right of the Older Persons is being held under the theme, ‘Building the framework for a regional response to issues affecting older persons’.
At a press briefing on November 17th, President of the Dominica Council on Ageing, Zetma Toussaint said the conference is not only for the elderly but for the entire society.
Toussaint said, “ The Dominica Council on Ageing over the years have recognized the need to educate the public on issues facing the elderly in Dominica as well as raising the level of consciousness of the older persons, taking them from being passive recipients to being able to advocate for themselves on issues which confront them.
Over the past eight years small groups of older persons have been able to meet with the Prime Minister and members of cabinet to discuss issues affecting them including health care services, lack of proper housing facilities, abuse, noise and its effects on older persons.”
The conference is geared at sensitizing persons on the prevalence of abuse of older persons in the region, developing a regional framework for prevention of elder abuse, as well as supporting the establishment and implementation of the UN convention of the rights of older persons.
Conference coordinator Sherita Gregoire says the meeting will take place over two days starting with a presentation by ECLAC which will analyze the current situation in the Caribbean with respect to population ageing in Caribbean and the rights of older persons, the progress made in implementing policies for this age group, and make policy recommendations to advance the rights of older persons.
Persons with an interest in the welfare of the elderly such as policy makers, nurses, doctors, caregivers, social workers and researchers are encouraged to attend the conference.
The conference is being organized by Dominica Council on Ageing in collaboration with Ministry of Social Services, Economic Community for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC).