Target on ‘ageing crisis’ with new facilities, tax credits

Two new respite and daycare facilities are to be built in Barbados over the next year as the government moves to address the “crisis” of a rapidly ageing population with the prediction that one in two Barbadians will be over 65 years old by 2050.

Furthermore, private investors who fund the provision of elder care facilities and hospices will be eligible for a 50 per cent tax credit on their investment.

These measures were revealed by Prime Minister Mia Mottley in response to the challenges thrown up by declining births and ageing citizens which, she said, ultimately challenge a country’s economic growth.

The situation is now urgent, she told the House of Assembly.

The two facilities are to be undertaken by the National Assistance Board (NAB) and designed along the lines of the Soroptimist’s Village at Eden Lodge, St Michael.

Outlining the reality of the impact of ageing on this country, Mottley said that 60 per cent of the population is over 35 and 25.6 per cent over the age of 60 among the 269 090 total population determined by the 2021 census.

“This is a crisis,” she told the Lower Chamber.

The real challenge, she explained, is whether Barbados is producing a population with the skills and knowledge to remain competitive and meet the needs of the economy with skilled and unskilled labour.

The prime minister said: “This dual deficit poses a challenge to achieving rates of equitable and inclusive growth that is required for our development. This is our objective. Our birth rate in 2023 was 10.58 births per one thousand people, a decline from 2022 of .26 per cent.”

The population growth has not only slowed down, it has declined, she added.

“What we are facing is the position of most developed countries of an ageing and declining population.”

Prime Minister Mottley queried whether Barbados is producing a population equipped to meet the needs of the local economy as it evolves since so much depends on skilled workers.

Saying she is more concerned about whether this country has the pool of labour skills it needs than the position of the reserves, she said the predictions are that by 2050 one of every two Bajans will be over the age of 65.

“This is a national crisis,” she added. “Only 40 per cent of the population is under the age of 35.”

Mottley said Barbados needs to redouble its efforts to meet the skills deficit and be able to drive growth and deal with other social impacts.

She also addressed the related issue of the increased numbers of those suffering from Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.

With these incidents on the rise, Mottley said, the state will be embarking on a programme to raise awareness for those dealing with loved ones to stem abuse, poor treatment and even abandonment of the sufferers.

She said recognising the family as the main care for the elderly, the NAB will be working closely with the Alzheimer’s Association to teach the necessary skills to deal with these older members of households.

“This is by no means an easy experience, but it is our hope that together as one Bajan family we can support each other when it comes to taking care of our seniors,” she added. 

(SP)