ELDER NEGLECT IN BOTSWANA: AN INVISIBLE CRISIS
- phenyobs
- May 2
- 1 min read
Article By: Phenyo Babusi
Elderly neglect and abuse are becoming a silent crisis in Botswana, with social workers sounding the alarm over growing mistreatment in homes and communities. Many elderly citizens are suffering from emotional, physical, and financial abuse, often at the hands of those who should be caring for them.
In an exclusive interview with Gabz FM News, social worker Boemo Laba revealed that some seniors are being denied access to pensions, left without proper care, or abandoned in rural areas with no support.
As traditional family support systems weaken, social workers are calling for stronger policies to protect older citizens. They’re advocating for shelters, awareness campaigns, and stricter legal measures against abusers.
With Botswana’s aging population on the rise, experts warn that if action isn’t taken now, elder neglect will worsen, leaving some of the country’s most vulnerable citizens forgotten.
I truly believe that if stakeholders can come together to think about building old age day care centers and old age homes where the senior citizens can be well taken care of, where they don’t live in isolation but in community and where they will be well fed and considered, that would be a step in the right direction. I wish more people could take heed to the call, the need is the call, and it can’t be a one man/one department show.