Independent senators warn of gaps in elder care reforms

A landmark bill to protect older persons has won strong backing in the Senate, but independent senators have warned that without adequate resources and cultural change, its impact could be limited.

Independent senators Jamal Slocombe and Mary Ann Redman backed the Older Persons Care and Protection Bill, while simultaneously cautioning that legislation alone cannot fix the systemic and cultural issues facing Barbados’ ageing population.

Senator Slocombe praised the bill’s intent but warned of a chronic “implementation deficit” that often plagues Caribbean governance. He argued that while the legal framework is necessary, it risks becoming “overly bureaucratic” if the government fails to provide adequate resources.

He noted a decline in traditional Barbadian values, citing the loss of “bus culture” where youth once automatically deferred to elders.

Regarding the limits of the law, he remarked: “You cannot legislate culture. Culture in itself lives and breathes, not on statute books. It doesn’t breathe in bills and acts. It is the way in which we interact with each other.”

He emphasised that the nation was built on respect, but suggested that somewhere along the line, the country has forgotten the values that guided it.

Reflecting on his own family experience, Senator Slocombe highlighted the immense financial strain on households caring for relatives at home.

He called for tangible policy support for those purchasing specialised equipment such as pressure-sore mattresses and diapers, noting: “The truth is, government is not going to be able to put everyone in a residential or public facility. There’s a greater consideration that needs to be made for those who have to look after their loved ones.”

With the National Ageing Policy set to expire in 2028, he urged the government to look towards the “silver economy” to ensure future frameworks remain aligned with the needs of the island’s growing elderly demographic.

Senator Redman characterised the bill as a vital correction to a societal breakdown that has left many seniors vulnerable to neglect and exploitation. She noted that, with the elderly now making up a quarter of the population, the complexity of care must be met with modern legal protections.

She argued passionately that “a society that does not value its older people denies its roots and endangers its future,” adding that protecting the elderly rests on principles of dignity, reciprocity and justice.

Senator Redman lamented the erosion of “filial duty” due to the pursuit of material success, which has led to the abandonment of seniors at hospitals, a phenomenon often referred to as “granny dumping”.

She praised the bill’s “simplicity of language”, which empowers citizens to understand new protections, including mandatory reporting of elder abuse, a confidential register of offenders, and the emergency removal of seniors from danger.

She also highlighted the importance of codifying rights for those in residential facilities: “What is novel about this legislation is that it provides explicitly for persons in residential facilities to have rights… Residents can form committees to encourage a better daily quality of life.”

To address the cultural gap, Senator Redman advocated “intergenerational exposure”, suggesting that fit retirees serve as mentors for at-risk youth to restore community cohesion. However, she echoed Slocombe’s concerns regarding resources, stating that the bill’s success is entirely “resource dependent”.

She stressed that the Social Empowerment Agency and its inspectors must be adequately funded, warning that without proper financial backing, these legal protections would remain “entirely theoretical”.

Senator Redman concluded that the bill stands “head and shoulders” above similar laws in the Caribbean, provided that public education and caregiver training are prioritised to ensure the legislation assists in changing societal values and attitudes.

Despite their reservations, both lawmakers agreed that the legislation positions Barbados as a regional leader in elderly care.

(RR)