HelpAge Belize promotes care for the elderly

They are a part of the population that is often pushed aside in favor of a younger more energetic generation. But as Patrick Jones reports, one organization, HelpAge Belize is championing the cause of senior citizens as vital to the development of the country.

Sister Elsa, Board of Trustees, HelpAge

“This week has been set aside every year to honor and to congratulate older persons for the life that they have lived, for the example that they have brought us and at the same time to help them to educate the public to realize that one day we will be older persons. And I think the youths of today need to learn that they need to take care of their mothers and their fathers when they get old.”

Among the activities for the week is a special tag day, which Sister Elsa says will help the organization raise funds to carry on its work.

Sister Elsa

“And we’re asking the public that when they see them out on the street or anywhere, the busines places and so, if they would support the tag day so that the funds that they recruit from that will be used to improve the services that are offered here.”

The obsevation of HelpAge Week this year coincides with another important celebration – the international year of older persons. Chairperson of HelpAge Belize Maria Elena Sylvestre says the year is being celebrated with the theme: “Towards a society for all ages” and a special logo which reflect’s the growing role that senior citizens play in any community.

Maria Elena Sylvestre, Chairperson, HelpAge

“Belize is no different and while in Belize we have a large gender disparity in ageing where there are more women who are more likely to suffer poverty and chronic ill health. At the same time we also have a greater number of our older citizens who embody what we call the new age for old age, which is that they have skills, they have vitality and they have independence. So what we would like all our Belizean citizens, is to work towards achieving for all of our old citizens the vitality and energy that is their within their reach.

The older person must be free to have good health care, good clothing, good nutrition, housing and they must also be free to have choice: if they want to live within their family unit or if they have to live in a residential home. They must be treated with dignity and they must be given what is their right which they have worked for.”

According to Sylvestre, the objective of HelpAge Week and the year-long observation is to bring greater awareness of the challenges that senior citizens face.

Maria Elena Sylvestre

“The challenges are that they are alone, especially in the case of many women who are widowed. They have no access to income. They have at the time that they worked, there was no Social Security umbrella for them. If they live in their houses, they’re in badly need of repair and their children or their grandchildren may have migrated and the needs and the challenges are a lot. They are tremendous but at the same time there are also a lot of older people who are helping their fellow older citizens and you can see it around you here that we have vital, vibrant people.”

Patrick Jones for News Five.

As part of the activities for HelpAge week, the residents of the Sister Cecilia Home for the elderly were taken on a trip to Chetumal today. Also planned for the week is a picnic on Tuesday at the B.T.L. Park in Belize City.