ORANJESTAD, Aruba — Aruba Elder Abuse requires urgent and coordinated action, according to Melva Croes-Yánez, president of Fundacion Alzheimer Aruba, who says the organization receives complaints or reports involving mistreatment and neglect almost every week.
Croes-Yánez said the foundation has worked to raise awareness about elder abuse since 2012 through its “Say No to Elder Abuse” project and the message “No Excuse for Elder Abuse.”
According to the foundation, some older adults and patients are afraid to report their experiences because they fear threats, retaliation or worse treatment from the people responsible for their care.
The frequency of complaints described by Croes-Yánez is the foundation’s account and has not been independently confirmed through publicly available inspection statistics.
Foundation Calls for a Voice for Older Adults
Croes-Yánez said public frustration expressed through social media and other channels demonstrates that more people are concerned about the treatment of vulnerable older adults.
She believes relatives, professionals and community organizations must speak for people who are unable or afraid to report abuse themselves.
The foundation said every older adult has the right to live with dignity, receive suitable nutrition and healthcare, and be treated with respect.
Many of Aruba’s senior citizens worked, paid taxes, raised families and contributed to the island’s social and economic development.
Fundacion Alzheimer Aruba argues that protecting their safety and dignity should therefore be a priority for government institutions, healthcare providers and the wider community.
Aruba Has Healthcare Quality Laws
Aruba’s National Ordinance on Healthcare Quality requires healthcare providers to deliver care that is safe, effective, timely and focused on the client’s actual needs.
The law also requires providers to have enough qualified personnel, suitable resources and clear divisions of duties and responsibilities.
A separate ordinance regulates residential care homes that accommodate and care for four or more adults who require assistance or nursing care.
That law was created to protect the quality and safety of people living in these facilities.
The Aruba Health Inspectorate, known as IVA, independently supervises healthcare institutions and professionals.
IVA can register complaints, investigate risks, conduct inspections and use enforcement measures when patient safety or the quality of care is threatened.
Inspection Reports Identified Serious Risks
Croes-Yánez referred to several official inspection reports concerning long-term care in Aruba.
An IVA investigation published in 2018 examined 16 residential care homes and identified areas requiring improvement within facilities and at the national level.
The report said concerns had been raised by healthcare professionals and relatives of residents. It also emphasized that care providers remain responsible for the quality and safety of the services they deliver.
A later IVA report, finalized on November 24, 2025, reviewed six suspected care-home calamities investigated between 2020 and 2024. All six were ultimately classified as calamities.
The report identified risks including inadequate staffing, insufficient professional knowledge, absent or inadequate protocols, poor communication, medication problems and failures to recognize deteriorating medical conditions promptly.
IVA stated that serious failures may result in intensive supervision, admission restrictions, mandatory improvement plans or recommendations to suspend or close care services when client safety cannot be guaranteed.
Incidents Must Be Reported and Investigated
Healthcare providers in Aruba are legally required to report suspected calamities to IVA.
A suspected calamity must generally be reported electronically within three working days. The provider must then investigate its underlying causes and introduce measures designed to prevent a recurrence.
IVA may intervene when providers repeatedly fail to report incidents or when the care delivered presents a direct danger to patients.
Croes-Yánez called for improvement measures that are specific, measurable, achievable, realistic and time-bound.
She said simply acknowledging problems is insufficient when the safety and health of vulnerable residents may be at risk.
Concerns About Unqualified Care Workers
Fundacion Alzheimer Aruba expressed particular concern about residential and home-care services that may operate without enough professionally trained staff.
The foundation said workers responsible for bathing patients, administering medication, providing nutrition and monitoring medical conditions must have the knowledge and qualifications required for those responsibilities.
Older adults who depend on others for their daily care may be unable to protect themselves when mistakes, neglect or abuse occur.
Relatives may also face difficult choices when they cannot afford to provide full-time care at home and must place a loved one in a residential facility.
Croes-Yánez said families should be able to trust that licensed care providers will deliver safe, respectful and professional assistance.
Recent Allegation Requires Careful Investigation
The foundation also referred to a recent alleged incident involving serious mistreatment of an older adult.
According to the supplied account, a suspect was detained while authorities investigated the circumstances.
Because the case remains an allegation under investigation, responsibility and the cause of the reported behaviour should not be assumed before the relevant criminal, civil and regulatory investigations are completed.
Croes-Yánez asked whether the responsible care provider and IVA would also conduct internal and regulatory reviews in accordance with the procedures applied to serious incidents.
Such investigations can help determine what happened, whether organizational failures contributed and which preventive measures are necessary.
Government and Care Providers Urged to Act
Fundacion Alzheimer Aruba is urging the ministry responsible for public health, social affairs, elderly care and addiction services, together with its departments and IVA, to enforce existing standards consistently.
The organization wants stronger supervision of care homes, qualified staffing, transparent licensing, effective complaint procedures and meaningful consequences when providers fail to protect residents.
IVA publishes annual complaint reports to provide insight into the concerns received from patients and the healthcare sectors involved.
The inspectorate says complaints can reveal risk areas and help determine future supervisory priorities.
Community Has a Shared Responsibility
The foundation said preventing Aruba Elder Abuse also requires participation from relatives, neighbours, healthcare workers and the wider public.
Warning signs may include unexplained injuries, poor hygiene, malnutrition, fear, sudden behavioural changes, missing medication, financial exploitation or an older person becoming unusually withdrawn.
Concerns should be documented and reported to the appropriate authorities rather than ignored.
Fundacion Alzheimer Aruba said the safety and dignity of senior citizens must never be compromised by weak management, insufficient regulation or a shortage of trained professionals.
The organization concluded with its continuing message: “Say no to elder abuse.”
Responses concerning the foundation’s statement may be directed to alzheimeraruba@gmail.com.
