Aruba elder abuse remains a serious concern and can occur not only in care homes but also inside family households, according to Minister of Public Health and Social Affairs Mervin Wyatt-Ras.
The minister said increased public awareness and media attention are helping more cases come to light.
According to Wyatt-Ras, abuse involving older adults can take different forms, including physical mistreatment, financial exploitation and inadequate care.
He said some elderly people may be physically harmed by relatives, while others can have money taken from them or misused by family members.
Abuse Can Happen at Home
Wyatt-Ras emphasized that elder abuse should not be viewed only as a problem involving residential care facilities.
Cases can also occur in private homes, where older people may depend heavily on relatives for daily support.
He said greater awareness is important because more information can help authorities identify situations that otherwise might remain hidden.
Complaints Are Investigated
The minister said Aruba has institutions responsible for receiving and investigating complaints involving older adults.
He referred to legislation governing care homes that was passed in December 2025 and said the Health Inspectorate, IVA, has been given responsibility for monitoring care facilities and issues affecting elderly residents.
According to Wyatt-Ras, complaints received by the inspectorate are investigated and the relevant care home or family may be contacted as part of the process.
He also referred to reports previously published by IVA concerning serious deficiencies in care.
Any findings regarding individual deaths, infections or neglect should be understood in the context of the specific inspection reports and should not automatically be attributed to all care homes.
Regulation Developed Slowly
Wyatt-Ras said the number of care homes increased significantly over the past two decades, creating a need for stronger regulation.
He noted that legislation intended to regulate the sector developed slowly, while the number of facilities continued to grow.
The government is now placing greater emphasis on supervision and accountability.
The broader Aruba elder abuse issue therefore includes both institutional care and family settings, with authorities encouraging complaints to be reported so they can be properly investigated.
