by Abdelhafidh Abdeleli, swissinfo.ch
If Spanish and Italian immigrants have their own old age care homes, why should elderly Muslims not have similar institutions?
The relevant parties appear to be in agreement on the urgent need for special health and social services, but views differ on how to achieve them.
The issue attracted the attention of Swiss media after a motion launched by two Social Democrat MPs of Turkish origin in Basel in February.
It then resurfaced following the announcement by the health and social department of canton Basel Country that it was in the process of laying out a future vision for health and social facilities that would take into account the special needs of elderly Muslims.
Felix Bader, the head of the Basel Country government long-term care department, told swissinfo.ch that there are no definite plans as yet, but said there is “serious thinking in this direction”.
Basel expects that the number of elderly Muslims who will need places at old-age care institutions within the next 15 years could surpass 400.
Muslims praying at the mosque in Langenthal (Keystone
Categories: Family values, Human Rights, Switzerland
Well, we would prefer family members to look after their ‘old folks’, however, there might be cases when that is not possible.