What’s Trending:Caring for the elderly

Thu, June 07, 2012 - 8:59 AM

The Nation’s Online Editor Carol Martindale looks at What’s Trending today in Barbados.

Taking better care for the elderly is the focus of some of our readers this morning.

With seniors deserving of better attention, many welcomed the news today from Minister of Health Donville Inniss who said the ministry will shut down any private nursiong home which does not comply with the operating procedures set out by them.

This is what some had to say:

Stacey Miller-Bush: “I am saddened by this report that Barbados is becoming like the US with families dumping relatives in nursing home and the elderly being exploited for profit. We must do better especially with the aging baby boomers in Bim.”

Sharon Woolley: “This happens so much in the Uk it's frightening. C an you imagine the sadness an elderly person must feel if they are in a home, have no family to visit and are neglected. There are homes where the staff do care, but staff in nursing homes here are paid the lowest wages yet the owners of a home usually get $1,800Bds per person per room. The elderly Bajans I have ever chatted to are proud people who are like a talking history books with so much to tell, they deserve to be cared for in their final years.”

Conchita Moseley: “It is a disgrace, We are all going to get old and infirmed someday , that's why it is important to have good family and friends around when that time comes. I n some cases the care (at private homes) is inadequate and the pay poor. I am proud to say that I took time out to care for my grandfather in his last days. Caring for the elderly is not easy and the extended family would be the best option. We should all embrace our elderly with love and care until the end. …”.

carolmartindale@nationnews.com

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