Two ceilings in separate buildings gave way in less than 24 hours, leaving an old man dead and another severely traumatised.
Something must be done about this situation and it is a very delicate one to say the least. The full facts surrounding these two cave-ins are unknown, but it is very highly likely that they were rented houses. Everyone knows the problems – some of the houses occupied by elderly people are rented out at a very measly sum that has not been changed for years. Sometimes, these sums can be as little as Lm8 per year. Well and truly, one cannot blame the owners for not carrying out maintenance on such properties – after all, they are supposed to be investments, not charitable operations.
The government is also linked with this, it cannot simply repeal the law and turf all these people out onto the street. Granted, the majority of them might be elderly widows or widowers who can be housed in residential homes for the elderly, but there are cases of entire families living in sub-standard housing. One simply cannot just turf them out onto the street. Again, granted, there has been some improvement in the sense that people who rent accommodation now are subject to rent rate reviews at the discretion of owners and also, there has been a move to stop the ridiculous hand me down practice that enabled generations to remain in a place for years and at the same rent price.
However, going back to the elderly element – one would seriously think that the families of those concerned would get their parents out of such squalid conditions, where that is the case, though to tell the truth, it is sometimes difficult to convince such people to move out. The real and present danger posed by living in such rundown places should be enough to convince the most callous of people. This really should be a matter for the family and just as we have a Commissioner for Children, we should have a commissioner for the elderly who should have the funds and resources available to ensure that senior citizens are not abused. Some are neglected and allowed to live in such conditions simply because their offspring do not care two hoots, or worse, suck whatever meagre income they have off them as well.
In this manner, the Commissioner could investigate such cases and order families to provide better care, or at least utilise that person’s pension to enrol them in a home for the elderly.
It is also an open secret that there are many people being treated as ‘social cases’ at St Luke’s. In other words, they have nowhere to go or their family do not want or cannot take them in. A holistic approach must be taken to look into the matter. This is an ageing population and it will be some time before it balances out after the WWII baby boom. One hopes that this generation of older people will not be simply left to die out.
Whatever the case may be, something must be done. We have heard of so many deaths or near escapes by people living in such housing, yet nothing is done about it. However, that seems to be a situation in this country where we weep everything under the carpet only for hell to be raised when something like this happens. Sadly, it is then forgotten and reburied… until the next time…