Friday, 30 September 2011
On the occasion of 1st October, the International Day of Older Persons, the Protector of Citizens recalls that Serbia is a country of old persons and calls for a greater institutional and family responsibilities to them.
The lack of funds in the state and local budgets significantly limits the institutional assistance provided to the elderly, but we can often use the available money to do something more. The families of older persons should also be reminded of their obligation to take care of their parents and relatives.
The Protector of Citizens, upon complaints and own initiative, supervises the work of social care institutions for accommodation of older citizens. All the more pronounced is the problem of legally unresolved situation in which family members accommodate their older relatives, without their free consent, to privately-owned residential care homes for the elderly, often because in the family environment they are not able to provide them with all-day attention and care they need.