If anyone qualifies to say they know the ins and outs of the Gordon Cummins District Hospital, that person would be Stephen Jemmott.
He has spent the past 43 years working at the elderly care facility in St Thomas and has seen many bosses come and go – seven to be exact – and has seen many of the island’s elderly become a distant memory.
Jemmott, 63, said the journey from 1970 until now had been a memorable one considering how he had seen the facility grow in size and capabilities.
When he was first assigned to the hospital, it was known as the almshouse. He recalled that the patients were held in cot skins, not the fancy beds with side rails of today, and the hospital had fewer and smaller buildings.
“Down here has changed by far. When I first came there were board floors. There weren’t really any washing machines or dryers in Barbados and they used to boil the clothes over wood fire.
“There was one stove in the kitchen; now they have steamers, industrial ovens and 12-burner stoves. The place is much better and up to date now,” he said.
In addition, he has met a lot of people who he still recalls today.
He said many had passed away. “You see different ones come all the time – some live to 100 years, some well into their 90s.”
Jemmott said what also makes the job special is the opportunity to sit and talk with the elderly from whom he has learnt plenty about life and how to treat people.
“I love the elderly. Sometimes you get some who are temperamental [and] can be miserable. Then there are some who are nice. I love working with them, and I go out of my way to help them.
“I can deal with people now. Working here teached me how to handle all kinds of people, how to don’t hate people, especially the elderly,” he said.
Jemmott, who is originally from Hillaby, St Thomas, said his mother had eight children. As the second eldest, he has always been one caring for others. She only passed away a few years ago and he cared for her in her golden years.
For Jemmott, leaving home to go to work at the same place for over 40 years has never bothered him, since he just loves his job. The storeroom porter said he has always held that title, but he has done a bit of everything at the hospital, including assisting patients on the wards. He also decorates for Christmas and assists with the food when there are picnics for Senior Citizens Week.
“There is nothing they ask me to do to help the old people that I would not do. When breadfruits in season I go and pick the breadfruits for them to get cou-cou. I use a push cart and go up the road and come back down,” he said.
Jemmott said the job has made him a man in more ways than one. He recalled that when he first started, he earned $150 a month. It has enabled him to build two houses – the first when he was 23 years old – and raise three children, the youngest of whom is 34.
Jemmott, whose wife is a pastor, has been a Christian for eight years. He is looking forward to a deeper relationship with God when offcial retirement comes in two years. He intends to be more dedicated to the work of the church and go out to gather souls for the Lord.
He will also continue to do a bit of joinery and, where possible, continue to assist the elderly in his community or wherever he is needed.
