I checked with CBS, the Central Bureau of Statistics, and according to a 2022 document I saw on their website, 18.3% of locals are over the age of 65. One year later, in 2023, the number grows significantly to 25% with 8, 278 locals joining that elderly demographic. And if you consider 60, a big birthday, then you may add another 8,663 locals, which pegs the elderly population on the island at 33%.
Now that you are aware of the challenge, you should know that for the first time, we have a dedicated minister, Ursell Arends, our Vice Premier, the Minister of Integrity, Nature, Transport, and Elderly Care, as a member of government.
This week under his Elderly Care hat he convened a great number of stakeholders in order to help breathe life into what he calls the Delta Plan making sure Aruba’s elderly lead a dignified life, participate actively in society and enjoy adequate health care.
We all agreed on the noble project, but where does the money come from.
It should come from rearranged priorities because as an island we make enough money but we don’t spend it wisely, we did not learn to manage our finances, says a friendly banker, I met at the event at the Hilton. We have thousands on a waiting list for housing, said a friendly social security specialist, we are building everywhere, but the demand is overwhelming and the waitlist long.
The event in the Hilton ballroom attracted a great number of professionals for a two day conference, organized in conjunction with SVB, the Social Security Bank, the local pension funds and the union of retired GOA employees. I saw representative of the hospital, the health department, the house doctors, the national sickness insurance and CBS.
They all came to hear about the minister ten year masterplan, 2023-33, and weigh in with their concerns and observations. The forum recruited almost 135 stakeholders, all prepared to head in the same direction.
According to the minister we should change our viewpoint and not look at the elderly in terms of illness, and expenses.
In his quick-scan the minister however agreed that the present situation is unacceptable, and worrisome. The waiting list for a space at elderly homes is long. There is abuse and neglect. The social network system is vulnerable. Old age is viewed as an illness. The elderly do not participate adequately, and a great number of them live in poverty.
During the two day conference, six different aspect will be discussed including mobility, demographics, housing, health care, wellbeing and representation.
The Prime Minister opened the conference with a few remarks. She said it is obvious in the way houses are built on the island that old age doesn’t play a role, judging from the multiple floors, steep stairs, and narrow doors. Public spaces have few ramps and railings, no benches, no easy wheel chair access, which must change in view of our aging population. We should create opportunities for the elderly to become more self-sufficient, to exercise more, and enjoy the company of their loved ones. She concluded with Growing Old is Mandatory, Growing Up, Optional, attributed sometimes to Walt Disney, that while we must grow old, we can maintain a young heart, providing we are healthy and content. True. Eventually, we will all get there, she declared.
