There is a film starring Gérard Depardieu (Maison de retraite is its title) that tells the story of a nursing home where the residents are exploited by unscrupulous owners.
When a caretaker discovers this, he organises a spectacular escape for the elderly, taking them—having no other place to bring them—to an orphanage.
The children suddenly find themselves with substitute grandparents, and the elderly find grandchildren they’ve missed. And they all lived happily ever after.
In films, as in fairy tales, these things work, and they work well. Any romantic might even believe that such a model could be applied to reality, bringing generations together and creating social integration from which only good things can emerge.
This seems to be the kind of thinking behind the Social Welfare Services’ decision when a group of unaccompanied minors set fire to the hotel they were housed in and were then transferred to a nursing home.
But in reality, things follow a different script. The needs of the elderly and those of teenagers are vastly different, especially teenagers without family, home, or any stability in their lives, and for some, already burdened with a troubled history.
Yesterday, the colleague Natasa Christoforou reported on the problems that arose both at the nursing home and in the surrounding neighbourhood. No one can excuse the criminal acts committed by the young men, as described by neighbours, residents, and staff at the facility.
At the same time, their behaviour shouldn’t come as a surprise. If they were setting fire to a hotel, how could anyone expect them to miraculously reform by being forced to live with elderly individuals, many of whom have significant health problems?
Clearly, no one believed such a thing, no matter how romantic their outlook. The goal was simply to find a place to house them, which exposes the underlying philosophy of the Deputy Ministry of Social Welfare.
State nursing homes for the elderly are viewed by the services not as places of care but as warehouses for souls—places where residents wait for the end. And since there was extra room under the roof, why not put the young people there too? Temporarily, for however long that “temporary” lasts.
At the same time, what is the plan for unaccompanied minors? Are they receiving any education? Are they being helped to acquire skills so they can earn a living without resorting to illegal activities?
What is the long-term goal for all these individuals who are now living here and will soon become adults?
Recently, we had the issue with facilities for minors and the exploitation of girls staying in such homes. Now (and often) we have the case of unaccompanied minors.
How do the Services plan to address these issues?