Guyana lacks a specific programme for elderly care and this is to be addressed through the drafting of a strategic plan that will, among other things, ensure that seniors’ rights are respected and upheld.
To this end, the Ministry of Public Health in collaboration with the Ministry of Social Protection and the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) hosted a one day workshop recently.
The plan which is being developed will govern the management and outline necessary recommendations in care for the elderly; it will also take into consideration a number of measures including the training of staff, and improvement of infrastructure and other services to enhance the care provided.
PAHO Family Health Consultant Dr Janice Woolford in brief remarks listed several areas that should be considered, which include the training of caregivers and well as added focus on mental health of the elderly.
“…These are some other areas of priority action: Providing appropriate services for older persons with disabilities, providing care and support for the caregivers preventing neglect and abuse which is still very current in elderly population, looking at violence also in older people,” she said.
Meanwhile, Consultant to the George-town Public Hospital Corporation and Ministry of Public Health on Elderly Care Dr Pedro Ponse emphasized the need for such a plan as there is evidence of a significant growth of the elderly population in countries around the world, including Guyana.
According to Dr Ponse, while all countries should have special programmes for health care of the elderly, Guyana does not have a specific implementation programme, thus steps should be taken to address this need.
“It is necessary that we start with something…the presentation of the ministries and PAHO is to try to see how it can be an increased programme for better health in general, especially in taking care of the elderly that is crucial,” he said.
Minister within the Ministry of Public Health Dr Karen Cummings reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment to the elderly, as it is her belief that the development of a strategic plan will allow seniors living in Guyana to age with dignity, maintain their independence if possible, play active and valued roles in society, and have their rights respected and upheld.
“At the ministry, we are committed to delivering the best quality public health care and public health care services to everyone living in Guyana, including the elderly. Preserving the well-being and quality of life of our seniors must be handled with the utmost priority as we continuously explore more strategic pathways to maximize and enhance the value of public health care we provide as a ministry to this very important cohort of the citizenry,” she explained.
Similarly, the Ministry of Social Protection remains committed to making contributions to geriatric care, training exercises, infrastructure, health and fitness among other undertakings to facilitate a more robust elderly population.
Representing the Ministry at the workshop was Deputy Director of Social Services Abike Benjamin-Samuels, who made mention of the minimum standards for elderly residential facilities which were developed last year.
These standards she said, aim at encouraging persons working in these facilities to improve the quality of care provided to senior citizens while also serving as guidelines, ensuring that the best health care for seniors is promoted while continually striving to increase standards.
“Over the years, elderly residential facilities have been operating unregulated in the absence of guidelines which would have been provided through the development of minimum standards for such facilities. In many instances, this resulted in our seniors being housed in derelict structures, subjected to abuse by caregivers, fed meals that do not cater to their dietary/nutritional needs and deprived of access to medical care,” Benjamin-Samuels noted.
The workshop, which was held at the at the Grand Coastal Hotel, Le Ressouvenir, East Coast Demerara, was attended by several stakeholders including social workers and caregivers from various senior citizens’ homes.
