The leader of the PPA parliamentary faction, Eduard Pieters, has made a clear call for immediate action regarding the situation of elderly care in Aruba, warning that if action is not taken now, the system could become unaffordable in the future.
During the IPKO meeting, where the topic of elderly care held an important place on the agenda, Pieters expressed concern about the rapid growth of the elderly population. According to data presented by the Director of Elderly Care, Desirée Helder, currently one in five residents in Aruba is over 65 years old, while in Curaçao the proportion is one in four people.
Pieters indicated that since 2018 it was already known that the challenge of population aging was approaching, but after eight years no concrete structural measures have yet been implemented. According to Pieters, the plans that have been presented should be shared with the public so that Parliament can help accelerate their implementation.
Currently, annual expenditures for elderly care amount to approximately 100 million florins. However, if structural changes are not made within the system, that figure could rise to nearly 300 million florins per year, which would place significant pressure on public finances.
The PPA faction expects the Minister of Public Health and Elderly Care to appear before Parliament to answer questions and work together on a concrete action plan. According to Pieters, if decisions are not taken now, within 14 years Aruba could face a crisis with serious consequences for families and the sustainability of the country.