Dignity, care and respect for our senior citizens to be maintained - Bhatnagar

Every Fijian should show love, dignity, care and respect to all our elders in Fiji and around the world in whatever way we can.

This was highlighted by Assistant Minister for Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation, Veena Bhatnagar while officiating at the International Day of Older Persons which was celebrated today at the Golden Age Home in Samabula.

Bhatnagar says caring for our elders should be a privilege and not a burden.

The Assistant Minister says she salutes all the heroes, the hardworking caregivers in both community based and institutional settings such as the Golden Age Home.

She says most often caregivers are unacknowledged in the value chain of the care industry.

Bhatnagar says respect for the elderly has been an important tradition throughout human existence.

Arieta Katonivere a caregiver at the home for about 10 years now says looking after the elders is a job that requires a lot of patience and hard work.

Katonivere says most of the time people look down on her because of what she does but it is a blessing to her.

Golden Age Home in Samabula looks after 52 elderly persons.