Holy Sunday.- The aging population in the Dominican Republic has been increasing in recent decades, as in many other Latin American nations. As people live longer, new challenges arise at the social, economic, and healthcare levels.
The lack of state protection for the elderly in the country places nearly one million people over 65 in severely vulnerable conditions. National laws and international conventions that require protection for the elderly are violated by authorities, families, and other sectors charged with ensuring a dignified and healthy life. Ninety-eight percent of Dominican seniors live in deplorable conditions, while public and private institutions do not provide pensions and nursing homes cry out for state assistance.
Article 57 of the Constitution establishes that older adults have the right to timely medical care, medication, a fair and timely pension, a roof of their own, and recreation. Destitute elderly people have the right to free accommodations that guarantee them the special care they deserve.
You may be interested in: Loren's ongoing battle with breast and lung cancer to get her chemotherapy treatments
Ana and Rafael, the faces of the elderly in deplorable conditions in the Dominican Republic
In a narrow alley in Los Mina, Santo Domingo Este, reside Rafael Hernández Vásquez, 80, and Ana Santana Duval, 73., have been married for 50 years, despite the hard blows that life gives them, they are always there for each other.
Mrs. Ana and her husband always worked from a very young age, she was a nurse and he, (Rafael) He was in charge of carrying merchandise to the other stalls. He says he never had children.
Rafael has a pension of 10,000 pesos and a government social security card, but these earnings aren't enough to cover his basic needs.
"That's not enough for the medicines we need."
Currently these elderly people live in a calamitous situation, the chambers of "Under the Spotlight" He was able to learn about the human tragedy this couple is experiencing. Their house is surrounded only by deteriorating furnishings, and they don't even have a bathroom to do their business. Most worrying is that in their backyard, there's a chicken coop, which clearly puts the health of the elderly at risk.
"We're always attentive and we've helped him, a little, but we've given him some help, and we truly see their conditions as inhumane. Those two elderly people really need help." said María Segura, director of the Ari de Los Mina Foundation.
María Segura provides them with both emotional and financial support, and with the food she collects, supplies Ana and Rafael. María is the director of the Ari Foundation for the Protection of the Elderly, which helps seniors in different neighborhoods of Los Mina. "We help with medicine. One month we get it for them, and another month we bring them food, but there are months when we can't help them." he added.
The elderly couple has lived in this humble home in Katanga, SDE, for 35 years. They long for a decent roof and a peaceful life. María stated that the Ministry of Housing and Buildings (MIVED) They carried out a survey of the house to understand the structure "I spoke with the engineer who came from (MIVED) and he told me they would make it according to the space." said Maria Segura.
According to the Article 45 of Law 87-01 establishes that the old-age pension is generated at age 60. The Law 87-01 creates the Dominican Social Security System and regulates the reciprocal rights and duties of the State and citizens regarding financing for the protection of the population against the risks of old age.
In many cases, the elderly have to experience firsthand the need to be separated from and provide care to their own families. The government also has its share of responsibility in this situation. The public policies developed do not have the necessary scope to guarantee better living conditions for the elderly population. Among the programs aimed at impacting the lives of the most vulnerable is the Program for the Protection of Old Age in Extreme Poverty and the Solidarity Card.
It is very important that the elderly live full and healthy lives and age with dignity. We all have an elderly person to love and care for, so it is important that their rights are respected and enforced.
It is sad when we see aging people like Rafael and Cave go through so many hardships and have no one to lend a hand. To help, you can call (849) 353-3946
