AMERICA/CHILE - Senior citizens aware of their rights: a six-meter high mural to call attention

Thursday, 16 June 2016 justice   healthcare   collaboration  

CEC

Santiago (Agenzia Fides) - On the World Day of Awareness on the abuse of the elderly, the Social Pastoral Vicariate Caritas of the Archdiocese of Santiago de Chile, yesterday met about 50 elderly people who suffered some form of abuse, and through a six-meter high mural, made by themselves, expressed their request to be respected.
In the note sent to Fides by the Episcopal Conference of Chile, the head of Social Caritas, Father Andrés Moro, explains: "The pastoral care of the elderly in Santiago accompanies more than 600 clubs of the elderly and wants to promote their rights. Therefore a couple of years ago we listed a number of rights that we hope can be discussed in Parliament, so that the law can be developed on the rights of the elderly".
The priest adds: "we want to invite the community to be aware that the abuse of the elderly is harmful, not only for them but for the whole community. The elderly have a lot to give and this mural is a sign with which we want to draw attention".
According to unofficial data, people over 75 years represent 4% of the population in Chile. The Index of Demographic Dependency (IDD) from 57.2 in 2005 is expected to reach 60.0 in 2020. (CE) (Agenzia Fides, 16/06/2016)


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