FPA raised concerns over adult children of elderly people misusing their parents' allowances issued by the government and subjecting their parents to financial abuse.
Family Protection Authority (FPA) yesterday raised concerns over adult children of elderly individuals in some families misusing their parent's elderly allowance of MVR 5,000 which is issued to citizens over the age of 65 in Maldives.
Speaking at a press conference held by the Social and Family Development Ministry yesterday, FPA's CEO Aminath Shiraanee Naeem revealed that the number of financial abuse cases perpetrated by individuals against their elderly parents is on the rise and that one of the biggest concerns for them right now is these elderly persons not benefiting from the allowance given to them to manage their daily expenses as a result of their children using the money.
"Parents, at the hand of their children, older children, are being subject to various financial abuse. [We] have noticed issues such as misuse of and withholding the allowance given to elderly people," she said.
"Looking at the [financial] abusers, we have noticed that most who partake in this are drug users. Additionally, people who have psychiatric conditions have also been identified to be a part of this," she added.
These issues will be investigated by the ministry, she said, and went on to say that the ministry will do everything possible to resolve such cases.
As FPA vows to investigate such cases and work on resolving them, it is important to note that similar cases were reported to authorities previously as well.
Instances of family disturbances due to the misuse of the elderly allowances, and children withholding bank cards of elderly parents and using up their money were investigated by Maldives Police Service and the Human Rights and Gender Committee of the parliament as well.
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