Elderly not fully embraced by Dominica – Zetma Toussaint

Toussaint is the former President of the Council on Ageing

Former President of the Dominica Council On Aging, Zetma Toussaint, is of the opinion that the elderly are not being fully embraced by the people of Dominica, saying that parts of Society still produce negative images of the older folks.

She made that statement at the Annual General Meeting of the DCOA on Wednesday 31st May 2017.

Toussaint said that little attention is being paid towards the “the potential among our senior citizens.”

“Can we in Dominica say that we have fully embraced the elderly in our society? If we seriously reflect on this question, we will answer in the negative. I say so because sections of society still perpetuate negative images of our elderly. We still have not fully capitalized on the rich resource in our society as we pay little attention to the potential among our senior citizens,” she said.

As stated by Toussaint, embracing the elderly would mean freeing them of any form of discrimination and abuse that are prevalent.

“If we truly embrace our elderly, we would ensure that they live their lives free of discrimination and abuse of any kind, especially nowadays, financial abuse,” Toussaint stated.

Toussaint cites the provision of a number of amenities as a necessary step towards improving the standard of living of the elderly.

“The senior citizens should be provided with the wherewithal to improve their standard of living, that is, proper housing including; provision of utilities, proper nutrition, accessible, available and affordable health care appropriate to their age, and opportunities for recreation and relaxation among other amenities,” she remarked.

She also added that all these provisions are in keeping with Article 25 of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

According to her, the government of Dominica has been of “great assistance”, and also, the corporate citizens have played their role in helping the elderly.

The Dominica Council On Ageing is a voluntary, Non- Governmental Organization (NGO) which serves as a coordinating body for national groups concerned with the welfare of the elderly.

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15 Comments

  1. tweety
    June 4, 2017

    one question. When an elderly person is brought to the hospital by a family member or care giver for treatment,after they are better and ready to go home.When the relative or care giver says they don’t have a place for them what can be done? cause I believe this is neglect and thats a form of abuse.who should be called to ensure these persons get home in a timely and safe manner.where am from the police is called.I have seen this happened here in dominica too often families basically leave there elderly at the hospital to be taken care of by the nurses long after they have been discharged. A hospital is not a place for the elderly if they are not ill they will just contract sickness from other patients.So if you really want to make a different start by addressing this matter cuz ppl use the hospital like a life time day care for there elderly and turne there backs

  2. mine
    June 4, 2017

    I am wondering if she was saying this when she was PResident. Some of the elderly their own children abandone them. I hope that the elderly are not being discriminated becuase we all have to get old some day becuase what goes around comes around.

  3. June 2, 2017

    You people just whine and complain and whine and complain way too much in this teeny country. How is the elderly not embraced? People, both young ad old, have lived in shacks or dilapidated houses for eons in Dominica. What housing situation is Zetma referring to? Stop complaining for once and enjoy dem lovely rivers and beaches you all have there.

  4. June 2, 2017

    My mom took me at age of 10yrs to Trinidad, prior to that my grandmother grew me in Delices, she imparted some of life’ most valuable lessons on me , that to this day i’ve never forgotten. (1) show me your friends and i’ll tell you who you are (2) never hang your hat where your hand can’t reach (3) never put your all your eggs in one basket (4) she spoke directly to one time saying Bob, if you go down the street and you get into trouble, if you are right, i’ll come get you, but if wrong? stay where you are (5) friends take you but they never bring you back. important messages that every young man and woman should deposit into their bank account, or backpocket . In this time of so-called technology the things needed to insert a form of belonging is long forgotten, todays people because of minimal education believe that they better than their parents and elderly,but a community is judged by the way the elderly is treated.Remember life is a cycle,what goes around, comes around.Bob…

    • Dominicanborn
      June 3, 2017

      Very well spoken

  5. Spike
    June 2, 2017

    I am not in favor of negative stereotypes of the elderly, but neither of positive stereotypes, nor of government providing “great assistance” toward an orthodox view of any group. Let everyone evaluate everyone else as individuals. Only then will we be on our best behavior. This is the persuasive argument against all racism.

  6. Jah Knows
    June 1, 2017

    Mrs Toussaint I wonder if you could give us some insight on why you think this is so? maybe if we knew the why’s we could then start to address it.

  7. Let The Truth Be Known - Original
    June 1, 2017

    Consider those who are younger, who are sick and are in need of care.
    Senior citizens are also the vulnerable in our society, especially if they are not able to take care of themselves.
    We know that God rewards the good and punishes the wicked.
    Blessed are those who take care of the senior citizens cheerfully and patiently. As God sees, your place in Heaven is assured.

  8. Let The Truth Be Known - Original
    June 1, 2017

    Those who take no interest in senior citizens must not forget that one day, if they live long enough they will grow old. Who knows how? If the elderly are ill-treated, it will return two-fold to the perpetrator.
    I have great respect and a soft spot for the elderly and, if need be I will extend a helping hand to them in whatever manner. This stems from my parents nurturing which I have not forgotten and practice especially when the opportunity presents itself. Whenever I see an elderly, I always think of especially my grandparents.
    We must also keep in mind that nothing escapes our God. If the elderly are also ill-treated, those who do to them will pay a dear price, even while they are alive.
    The good that people do follow them. Likewise the evil.
    If we say we are Christians and church-going at that and never cease to read/study the Holy Bible and quote from it, we should know how to treat others; no exception the elderly.

  9. jihan
    June 1, 2017

    Your right my lady,once your old in this country your doomed,Everyone is greedy and just hate each other,and the corrupt government officials cares even less about the old and unfortunate.

    • KID ON THE BLOCK
      June 1, 2017

      jihan, you have no clue what’s happening in the country. Maybe you don’t have eyes to see or ears to hear. Maybe you are one of those who is against what the Government have been doing for the elderly. You are one of the greedy ones that hate your neighbor.

    • Let The Truth Be Known - Original
      June 1, 2017

      Your comment about the government not caring for the elderly is a downright lie. I do think you are either blind, deaf or sleeping. Do you not read the relevant articles on DNO? It may be too you have a short memory or loss of it.
      Furthermore, there is the Dominica Council On Aging which will collaborate with the government and seek whatever is necessary to assist the aging.
      One day you will pay for this. It may be you are one of those who look down on the aged and will not lift a hand to assist them especially if you are aware they are in need of.

    • NUWPl
      June 1, 2017

      Guess u to blind to see that she praised the government for being of GRATE ASSISTANCE”. Typical you all. Seeing what you all want to see. Thanks god we’ll all have eyes and ears and mouth. This is why we will not call our elderly who is recieving help from the public purse GREEDY AND NOT NEEDY AND PROSTITUTE.

      The record of the govt in caring for the elderly is there for all to see.

      People like your self needs to condemn when our elderly is being told at age 82 she not deserving of a home from Govt.

      You need to condem anyone who tells a elderly man from Galior to sweat for him to eat. Take his cutlass and go garden at age 83 so he can eat and don’t accept and help from Govt bcus it making him lazy. Mean while they are begging the very old people to pay their bills for them. And the are in their 60’s.

      Hope if he reaches 70 he don’t take the $300.00 govt is giving the elderly.

      All this is wat the govt is doing for our senior citizens. So wen u talking look in the…

    • Abused
      June 1, 2017

      Abuse of the elderly is much more than seeing them as a “rich resource in our society” and as was rightly stated freeing them of any form of discrimination and abuse of any kind should be paramount. One such form of abuse is the indiscriminate loud noise that the elderly have to endure in their homes perpetrated by owners and operators of discos and bars spewing out their abuse without care or compassion. Does the society care, do the government and the police care? Th truth is they don’t because if they did something would have be done to solve this problem a long time ago. In fact the decibels are increasing and the elderly just have to take it. Those in authority forget that the elderly also pay taxes and contribute to the development of the society. Where else in the world that this despicable practice will go unsolved except in Dominica? Come on Dominica Council On Aging do something!

  10. Great
    June 1, 2017

    Thanks Zetma for being the voice of the elderly. Your contribution and dedication is beyond measure.

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