Jenkins: Today; a day we cannot be proud of as a country

Prof. Dr. Hatice Jenkins, Chairperson of the Association for Elderly Rights and Mental Health, stated on the occasion of 1 October International Day of Older Persons that it is not a day to be proud of in the northern part of Cyprus, and shared the dire current situation of nursing homes.

Jenkins: Today; a day we cannot be proud of as a country

Jenkins, making a statement on her social media account, mentioned that today is a day that the country cannot be proud of and outlined the current situation in nursing homes and care facilities as follows:

1. Lapta Nursing Home; It was demolished in 2011, the foundation has been laid three times, but it is still not completed, there is no budget, and the construction cost is uncertain…
2. Kalkanlı Care Facility; Established in 2019, it is unclear which ministry it belongs to, the budget is uncertain, the staff is uncertain, the law is uncertain, and it is always in the news with scandals…
3. Sınırüstü Care Facility; In January 2021, it shook the country as a major scandal with elderly neglect and abuse and was closed. Two years have passed, but neither have the culprits been punished nor has it been repaired; it is waiting to be forgotten…

“We no longer know what to tell elderly families who call us every day looking for care facilities.”

Jenkins reminded that Lapta Nursing Home and Kalkanlı Care Facility are affiliated with the state, while Sınırüstü Care Facility is a foundation affiliated with the Evkaf Foundation. She noted that while the situation is like this in the government sector, there are four private care facilities struggling on their own.

Jenkins said, “We no longer know what to tell elderly families who call us every day looking for care facilities. October 1st makes us think about all of this. We are very sorry…”

Source: Özgür Gazete