The story of an 85-year-old man, forced to exist in terrifying conditions and receive help exclusively from neighbors, caused a wide public outcry.
The president of a non -profit organization to protect the rights of older people in Cyprus Dimon Antoniu, noted that such cases are far from single.
“A positive moment in this case is the awareness of the residents of the district. The state cannot be present in every area, ”he emphasized.
According to Antoniu, as a rule, neighbors show indifference, which leads to even more dramatic situations.
“Children often leave home and throw their parents. This is a form of cruelty, ”he noted, adding that his organization regularly receives complaints about the refusal of maintenance and care for the elderly.
Of particular concern is that some children not only leave their parents without support, but also deprive their property.
“Over the past year and a half, we have been fixing more and more cases of thefts. Children open joint accounts, receive parents' pensions, and sometimes even rewrite all real estate in their name, ”said Antoniu.
At the same time, elderly people rarely decide to declare their own children to the police.
“They call us just to talk. They say that they see children every two months, ”he said.
Antoniu emphasized that in Cyprus there are not enough specialized structures that can protect elderly people who are violated or left without care from the family.
Source: Sigmalive.com
