The Dominica Council on Ageing is advocating for stronger legal protections for senior citizens as it prepares to host a public panel discussion to raise awareness of older persons’ rights, safety, and well-being.
The event, scheduled for Saturday, July 11, at the Dominica Public Service Union building, will bring together legal, medical, financial and social care professionals to discuss issues affecting older adults and the protections currently available under Dominican law.
According to the Council, the discussion is intended to empower senior citizens, future retirees, caregivers, relatives, and members of the public with information on legal rights related to healthcare, financial protection, housing, and personal decision-making.
The organization said the initiative also seeks to encourage action to strengthen existing legal protections so that older persons are better safeguarded against financial exploitation and other forms of abuse, while ensuring their personal wishes are respected as they age.
The panel will feature presentations from Attorney-at-Law Singoalla Blomqvist-Williams, Attorney-at-Law John Elue Charles, Consultant Psychiatrist Dr. Nadia Wallace, representatives of the National Bank of Dominica (NBD), the National Co-operative Credit Union (NCCU), Mary-Therese Junkere of PHARCS, and Ainsworth Irish of the Dominica Council on Ageing. Each will address different aspects of protecting the rights and welfare of senior citizens.
The Council is encouraging senior citizens, senior groups, caregivers, family members and other interested individuals to attend the free event, noting that public awareness is an important step toward preventing abuse and promoting dignity and independence later in life.
Organizers believe stronger legal safeguards, combined with greater public understanding of senior rights, will help ensure that older persons are treated with respect, protected from exploitation and supported in making informed decisions about their health, finances and personal affairs.
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