There is an increasing demand for care givers around the country.

While addressing members of parliament yesterday, Social Welfare Minister Mereseini Vuniwaqa says the need for care giving is real and will increase in the next few years.

Vuniwaqa says the ministry is now looking into ways to encourage members of the community on how to take care of their elderly to help address the issue.

“To do this, we have partnered with APTC to come up with a caregiving training package launched on the island of Ovalau last year and we are doing another three trainings in Yasawa in March this year and we will go on from there. So we have partnered with the non-government organizations to come up with this training to empower people living in various communities around the country, empower them to be able to look after the elderly in their own homes.”

Vuniwaqa says the ministry has also undertaken a survey in every communities to get a clear estimates on the total number of elderly and those that needs assistance.

She adds the ministry has also launched a minimum standards for all the homes to follow in order to meet the needs of those under their care.