The Social Development Ministry has responded to a video which claimed to show the abuse of an elderly person.

In a statement, it says based on advice from personnel at the Health Ministry, there appears to be no evidence of physical abuse of any residents at the Home in question.

Instead, it says it was advised that the footage showing the senior citizen lying on the floor was due to a medical incident in December 2023.

It says the resident is in recovery and that a visit was also conducted by investigators attached to the Division of Ageing, which resulted in several recommendations being made with regard to attaining the required licenses to improve the operating standards at the Home.

The Ministry warns however that incidents of elderly abuse are far from isolated, with 182 reported cases in private residences and 34 in Homes for Older Persons in 2023.

Prior to this, a total of 260 cases were reported in fiscal 2022.

It reminds that the Private Hospitals Act Chap. 29:03, falls under the purview of the Ministry of Health.

Section 20 of the Act states that: “Approved Homes shall be inspected by a Psychiatric Hospital Tribunal established under the Mental Health Act and that Tribunal shall exercise and have the same powers and duties to inspect, examine and report as inspecting teams and inspectors exercise and have under this Act and the Regulations made thereunder”.

The Social Development Ministry says it is committed to partnering with key stakeholders like the TTPS and the Health  Ministry to encourage compliance as well as impose stricter safeguarding mechanisms to ensure that reported incidents of elder abuse are thoroughly investigated and treated with.

It says it is also reviewing the legislation with a view to amend the act, based on recommendations received from relevant stakeholders.