Observance of World Elder Abuse Awareness Day/Senior’s Retreat 28th July – 3rd August 2024  

#TurksandCaicos, July 19, 2024 – The United Nations (UN) has designated 15^th June as World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD). The day aims to focus global attention on the problem of physical, emotional, and financial abuse of elders. It also seeks to understand the challenges and opportunities presented by an ageing population and brings together senior citizens, their caregivers, national and local government, academics, and the private sector to exchange ideas about how best to reduce incidents of violence towards elders, increase reporting of such abuse, and to develop elder-friendly policies.  Elderly people deserve the same dignity and respect as people of all other age groups.

The Department of Aged Care and Rehabilitation and the Health Promotion and Advocacy Unit, Ministry of Health and Human Services, will be hosting a Senior’s Retreat and a week of activities in Observance of World Elder Abuse Awareness Day. In addition, the Department will be launching the Decade of Healthy Aging. Commencing with worship at St. Mary’s Pro-Cathedral, Grand Turk at 9:00am, 28^th July 2024, followed by a luncheon at the Dillion Hall, there will be morning and evening sessions as we bridge the intergenerational gap. Some of the activities include the launch of a Move to Live Fitness programme for seniors, spa day, beach day, nutrition, physical therapy and the week will climax with a gala banquet under the auspices of Mrs. Sylvia Melhado, Patron of the Sylvia Melhado Aged Care and Special Needs Centre, at the Yellowman and Sons auditorium 3^rd August 2024.

There will also be a Decade of Healthy Ageing launch and a consultation will be held on 2^nd August 2024 in collaboration with the Pan American Health Organisation and World Organisation to develop a National Policy on healthy ageing. The United Nations Decade of Healthy Ageing (2021–2030) is a global collaboration aligned with the last ten years of the Sustainable Development Goals, to improve the lives of older people, their families, and the communities in which they live.

Director for Aged Care and Rehabilitation, Betty-Ann Been, stated, “The Department remains committed to promoting healthy ageing and supporting the elderly throughout the TCI with a number of programmes aimed at improving the quality of life of our seniors.”

Hon. Shaun Malcolm, Minister of Health and Human Services, stated, “With the launch of the Decade of Healthy Ageing, we will address four areas for action: (1) change how we think, feel and act towards age and ageing; (2) ensure that communities foster the abilities of older people; (3) deliver person-centred integrated care and primary health services responsive to older people; and (4) provide access to long-term care for older people who need it.”