Unaccompanied Elderly Travelers a Concern in Samoa

096a1d9a-bab3-4559-8578-fab27a154439

Samoa’s Director General of Health, Leausa Dr Take Naseri, has asked families of the elderly traveling home on repatriation flights to make sure they send family members to escort the elderly home.

At a press conference yesterday the National Emergency Operations Committee acting chairman, Agafili Shem Leo, said the appeal was in response to a number of elderly flying back unaccompanied, especially those needing assistance in doing things, including taking a shower.

Leausa said this meant more responsibilities to the workload of the Ministry of Health front liners who worked round the clock, when the families should have sent a relative to escort and care for the elderly while they were in quarantine.

He said they had been forced to quarantine some elderly women in separate rooms, adding to the health workers load.

The weak immune systems of the elderly also made them vulnerable to illnesses which Leausa said is all the more reason for keeping them abroad where they would have access to medical treatment.

Acting NEOC Chairman Agafili said it becomes a challenge for the local authorities when elderly people travel on repatriation flights without an escort.

Tags: , , , ,