Call for enhanced protections for the elderly
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On Tuesday, Dr. Rosa Castro, President of the Health Services Administrators Association (CASS by its acronym in Spanish), expressed her support for Governor Jenniffer González Colón’s choice of social worker Suzanne Roig Fuertes as the new Family Secretary and emphasized the need to reinforce protections for elderly individuals abandoned in healthcare facilities.
“The Health Services Administrators Association, a non-profit professional organization comprising over 800 hospital administrators, Diagnostic and Treatment Centers (CDT), Primary Health Centers 330, among other entities, supports the appointment of the remarkable social worker Suzanne Roig by Governor Jenniffer González as Secretary of the Department of the Family,” Castro stated in a written announcement.
“In our hospitals, we acknowledge the essential contributions of social workers; in our scenario, we have clinical social workers,” she noted. “We understand the leadership and dedication of the appointed individual, marking a vital opportunity to enhance services targeted at the most vulnerable groups, particularly our elderly.”
“The selection of social worker Roig arrives at a pivotal moment to tackle the social issues impacting our elderly, who rightfully deserve the care and honor that corresponds to their dignity and inherent rights,” Castro continued. “At CASS, we applaud her appointment and extend our support to craft initiatives that foster their well-being.”
“Moreover, CASS voices its worries about the ongoing issue of older adults being left in hospitals without any valid reason,” she remarked. “This predicament, affecting a delicate segment of our community, requires immediate attention, as it also constrains access and services to other patients.”
“We have all observed the increasing trend of individuals leaving elderly people abandoned in hospitals annually, even after they have been treated and discharged. We are also aware of the challenges that the Family Department frequently encounters in securing placements for them in homes,” Castro stated. “In this context, we urge the appointed individual to intensify efforts in establishing a Specialized Social Unit to manage these cases, offer preventive assistance to families in crisis, and ensure dignified care for our elderly.”
