As populations across the globe grapple with shifting demographic landscapes, the question of how to honor and protect aging populations has moved to the forefront of public discourse in Dominica. In a recent panel discussion hosted by the Dominica Council on Ageing (DCOA) at the Dominica Public Service Union (DPSU) headquarters, stakeholders gathered to unpack the legal frameworks and social responsibilities that surround the welfare of the island nation’s older adults.
Following the dialogue, Cecil Shillingford, Chairman of DCOA’s Education and Health Committee, outlined a clear, urgent call to action: the country’s seniors must be shielded from systemic neglect, interpersonal abuse, and predatory financial scams, so that they may spend their final years with the dignity they have earned.
Shillingford emphasized that generations of older Dominicans laid the foundation for the modern, thriving society the nation enjoys today. Decades of hard work, community building, and sacrifice from today’s seniors transformed Dominica into the better place it is for current and future generations, he argued. Now, as advancing age limits their ability to fend for themselves, every segment of society — from immediate family members to the broader public — has a moral obligation to step up and ensure their twilight years are marked by comfort, joy, and good health.
At the core of Shillingford’s message is the need for proactive protection against exploitation. He warned that bad actors regularly target vulnerable older adults, seeking to steal their life savings and precious personal possessions through deceptive schemes. Beyond financial fraud, he highlighted the urgent need to shield seniors from all forms of harm, including physical violence, emotional manipulation, and psychological abuse, as well as harmful neglect by caregivers and family.
Beyond protection from harm, Shillingford stressed that robust legal safeguards are non-negotiable to uphold the fundamental rights and independence of older adults. These legal protections must do more than just penalize abuse; they need to guarantee unfettered access to quality healthcare, ensure access to critical social services, and preserve two core rights that all people deserve regardless of age: the right to personal privacy, and the right to self-determination when making choices about their own lives and care.
The panel discussion comes as part of broader efforts by DCOA to raise public awareness about elder rights, and push for stronger policy and social support systems that meet the growing needs of Dominica’s aging population.