A total of 205 elderly persons live in homes for the elderly, their families rely on the government and other organisations to look after the same people who have brought them up.
These were the words of the Minister for Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation Mereseini Vuniwaqa at the celebration of International Day for Older Persons in Sigatoka.
Vuniwaqa says the week was dedicated to celebrate the lives of older persons and their contribution to nation building.
She says they may have done this by serving as national leaders, civil servants, business owners or simply as parents teaching their children to be the best versions of themselves.
Vuniwaqa says the government currently runs 3 homes for the elderly in Suva, Lautoka and Labasa.
She says in a particular case, a person had sent his mother from the United States of America to Nadi on a plane with the promise that someone will be waiting for her at Nadi.
The Minister says this did not happen and the government had to step in.
Vuniwaqa stressed that people should not let the government take the privilege and honor of looking after the elderly and they should do it themselves.
