 St. Lucia joined the global community in observing world-elder abuse awareness day, held annually on 15 June. Elder abuse according to the United Nations can be defined as a single or repeated act or lack of appropriate action occurring within any relationship where there is an expectation of trust which causes harm or distress to an older person. It is a global issue affecting the health and human rights of millions of older persons the world over and an issue that requires the urgent attention of the international community. District Medical Officer for Grozile Dr. Diane Ferdinand-Walkert during a sit-down interview provided insight into her experiences with elder abuse. She explained the situations and challenges that may result in elder abuse. Not every person has someone to take care of them, not all the elderly persons have people who are willing to care for them and so they have a challenge with meeting their basic needs. Some of them I speak to all of their children are overseas and so if they get into an accident or minor injury it becomes a major thing when they are not able to seek medical assistance in a timely fashion. Another thing with neglect we can see or even emotional abuse even the children that take on the elderly parents sometimes you find that they limit their activities it's almost like they start treating the parents as if they were children and I'm talking about people with their sound mind and people able to make decisions. They may not be physically up to par what they used to be but their mental capacity is appropriate and they are legally able to make decisions whether it be financial or decisions concerning their friends their social interactions and to limit these persons to a locked room or saying your friends cannot call you or any of these things that the children or friends may do the caretaker may impose upon them would be detrimental to the patient's psychological and emotional health. The United Nations this year is observing world elder abuse awareness day another theme access to justice this theme serves as a reminder of the importance to fully address the needs of older persons who may seek recourse. The UN noted that the COVID-19 pandemic has shed light on reports of abuse and neglect of older persons particularly in long-term care institutions and the community. Saint Lucia this year is commemorating the day another theme building strong support for the elderly. Dr. Ferdinand Walcott highlighted a number of initiatives that can be undertaken to address the issue of elder abuse. I believe that as an official caretaker you have to be trained specifically with working with the elderly. The elderly they need to be listened to just as you would like to be listened to it doesn't mean that their voice is diminished it may be softer but it should is just as independent as when they were of their working years. I believe that that they need to be listened to they need to be appreciated they need to be shown the respect that they deserve and if it comes to the point where the caretaker feels that they are not able to manage it's fine it's okay everybody goes through it especially if you have an elderly person who's holding on to the independence and you're seeing that they're not able to make the decisions that they they need to make or you find another family member is maybe asking them for money or abusing them in that way you have to you may have to come in and speak with the person maybe seek help seek help from a medical professional or the law as the case may be. World Elder Abuse Awareness Day was officially recognized by the United Nations General Assembly in its resolution 66127 in December 2011 following a request by the International Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse who first established the commemoration in June 2006. It represents the one day in the year when the whole world voices its opposition to the abuse and suffering inflicted to some of our older generations.