National Council for the Elderly concentrates on homes’ maintenance |10 October 2016

International Day for the Elderly was celebrated on October 1 and in Seychelles, the occasion was marked by different activities including a mass at the St. Michael’s Church at Anse Aux Pins, lunch and dance at the Creole Institute and other old people’s gatherings.

The elderly again gathered on Beau Vallon beach last week for the ‘Senior Citizen Sports Day’. Another such activity will be held at the beginning of November in partnership with the Seychelles National Youth Council (SNYC).

On the occasion of the International Day for the Elderly, the chairperson of the National Council for the Elderly David Adrienne said the council is concentrating on ensuring that the nine old people’s homes around the country are well maintained and that their occupants’ welfare is maintained. This is done through keeping in touch with the homes’ administrators to ensure everything runs well, while the department of community development and the Association des 3èmes Ages – the organisation regrouping the elderly in Seychelles – takes care of organising activities which help keep its members together and in good shape.

However, Mr Adrienne has added that although government will continue to support our elderly citizens through various programmes, it is important for the young generation not to abandon their elders. His message for International Day for the Elderly was that family members, especially the younger ones, take care of their elderly parents who he says have done a lot for them.

“Too often, the elderly are left to fend for themselves but cannot live their last days decently as they need the support of their children and grandchildren,” he said.

He also called on the youths to prepare for their old age by doing more savings and not indulging in unhealthy activities.

As mentioned by Mr Adrienne, recent government benefits for the elderly have included the following: pension increases with the colonial pension for former government employees prior to 1979 by R500 and the social security pension revised from R3,600 to R5,050 a month; subsidy on plane and boat tickets between Mahé, Praslin and La Digue; increase in salary for home carers; and loans for house renovation.

Under this last scheme, a person who is 63 years old or older and is the owner of his/her own home can apply for a loan amounting to R100,000 with no interest, plus a 25% government subsidy. This means that when a pensioner borrows for example R100,000, he/she will repay a total of only R75,000.

Mr Alfred Poris of Mont Buxton is one of the beneficiaries of the special loan which has permitted him to redo the roofing of his house. This is what he had to say about it:

“I am very happy that I have been able to repair my house. I am grateful to government for the loan and for all that it is doing for us elderly citizens. I say thank you to all those who helped me repair my house,” he said.

The Council for the Elderly was created in 1997 with the following functions: Coordinate the programmes and activities of organisations and other persons engaged in the welfare of the elderly; provide care and assistance to them; and advise government on all matters concerning the elderly.