91,000 elderly in need of care

91,000 elderly in need of care

MAKASSAR, South Sulawesi: The number of neglected senior
citizens in 26 district and cities in the province has reached
91,000.

Head of the Social Welfare and Community Care section of the
province HM. Sewang Thamal said about 50 percent of them had been
given shelter in nursing homes.

Most of their families were ashamed to send them to a nursing
home.

Sewang said the budget for social welfare, including care of
neglected senior citizens in the province this year, was Rp 28
billion (US$3.4 million).

Most of the senior citizens in South Sulawesi lived in Luwu
district, with 14,440 people, followed by Jeneponto district,
with 9,902 people. -- Antara