Government is in the process of developing a new policy on elderly care in Barbados with the aim of addressing a wide range of issues affecting senior citizens.
This was highlighted in Parliament on Friday as alternative care for the elderly came up for discussion during the Estimates debate, in which lawmakers and ministry officials responded to questions.
In the hot seat were Minister of People Empowerment and Elder Affairs Kirk Humphrey, senior ministry officials, as well as senior officers from the agencies which fall under that ministry.
The ministry has been allotted $76,853,931 for the 2022/2023 financial year, which begins April 1.
Member of Parliament for Christ Church West Dr William Duguid raised the issue of having adequate alternative care for the elderly to help ease the pressure off the state-owned Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH).
He complained that the existing Alternative Care for the Elderly programme was not working as it should, adding that there were “many people” who would like to get involved but they did not think it was attractive due to how much Government is paying.
“The cost of keeping somebody in a hospital bed versus the cost of paying for them per month at a private care of the elderly facility is cheaper so it makes a lot of sense,” said Duguid.
“Sadly, the cost of when it was set up seven or eight years ago has not changed, but the price of insurance, food, electricity, water and the price of everything has changed,” added Duguid, without disclosing the costs associated with the programme.
He also suggested that the care of the elderly programme be moved fully to the Ministry of People Empowerment and Elder Affairs.
The programme currently falls under the Ministry of Health and is being allotted $38,287,414 for the upcoming financial year 2022/2023. This is $2.66 million more than what is contained in the revised Estimates for the current financial year.
Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of People Empowerment and Elder Affairs Gabrielle Springer indicated that former Minister Cynthia Forde had started plans for an expansion of the Alternative Care for the Elderly programme.
Springer said the hope was for the Ministry of People Empowerment and Elder Affairs and the Ministry of Health to work closely together on that project, adding that both ministries were engaging the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO) on the expansion plan and review of the existing policies and structures relating to elderly care.
“So far, we have a situation analysis and we have a fairly good sense of what is out there. Our next stage is to work with PAHO and the Ministry of Health to develop a robust and relevant policy for the elderly,” disclosed Springer, who acknowledged the growing elderly population in Barbados.
“We have to look at the elderly in a completely different way and the spectrum of care that can be offered. There are a whole range of activities that we need to look at and we need to look at intergenerational work between the elderly and the youth as well. There is a whole wealth of work that has been done in this area and we need to continue.”
In November 2020, Prime Minister Mia Mottley reported that it was costing government an estimated $25,000 per month to keep “abandoned” elderly individuals at the QEH, as she announced plans to build a new geriatric hospital in the vicinity of Waterford, St Michael.
At the time, she said it was costing Government some $5,500 to care for each patient at the Geriatric Hospital, which is now located at Beckles Road, St Michael.
As it relates to alternative care of the elderly specifically, $3.25 million is earmarked for operating expenses, which is the cost of caring for elderly persons who are transferred by the Ministry of Health to private nursing homes.
The Geriatric Hospital is budgeted $228,499 for its operating expenses. Some care of the elderly services are also offered at the St Phillip District Hospital, the Gordon Cummins District Hospital and the St Lucy District Hospital.
(MM)
