Stakeholders discuss national plan needed for seniors

Discussions on developing a national policy strategy and action plan on aging are needed at this time when the COVID-19 pandemic is affecting the older population globally.

That is the view of Minister of Elder Affairs and People Empowerment Cynthia Forde who said Friday that while many of the island’s elderly folk are grappling with health challenges, that has been significantly compounded by the pandemic that introduced protocols of social distancing, restricted social activities including church services and overall minimal human contact, along with increasing use of technology.

“And while, as you previously heard, we had always intended to rethink the delivery of social services to the elderly in Barbados, the numerous gaps uncovered by the experience of COVID-19 has forced us to fast track our review to find the best strategic direction to support and protect our elderly population,” she said as she delivered remarks at a National Conversation on Aging and Elder Affairs: Forming the Narrative.

The Minister said that, globally, governments have been grappling with the fact that it is projected that by 2050, almost a quarter of the world’s population will be over 60 years old. She indicated that as the Barbados’ population continues to age rapidly, the country must face head-on the many challenges this trend may pose to present and future economic, social and health realities.

Forde noted that Barbados had earned the reputation of being the amputee capital of the world, and the burden of chronic diseases on the public purse and other resources already poses a great challenge for planners and policymakers, since 60 per cent of the country’s health budget is spent on the treatment of NCDs.

Although saying that not all elderly are mentally and physically incapable and some simply needed opportunities for recreation and human interaction, “there are, however, those who will need support and we have to plan for them”.

“We can start by identifying these issues which are likely to most affect older persons,” Minister Forde said.

“These include being unprepared for retirement, grief from losing a spouse or partner, feelings of social exclusion when everyone else seems to be so busy with their own lives, a decline in living accommodation due to lack of income, difficulty in accepting physical changes that are simply as a result of getting older, and malnutrition due to loss of appetite, especially when living alone. In addition, older persons can find themselves grieving for spouses or other relatives.”

The Minister said the proposed Elder Care in the Community Programme, which was announced by the Governor-General on September 15 during the Throne Speech, will include further intergenerational engagement where younger persons interact with older persons, each learning from each other. (anestahenry@barbadostoday.bb)