Minister of Social Care, the Hon. Steven Blackett recently commended the National Assistance Board (NAB) for the positive impact on the quality of life of elderly persons in communities across Barbados.
However, he has cautioned the government agency against complacency and declining standards which can negatively impact service delivery to individuals and families, and at the organizational level can erode the gains made over the past 36 years.
Minister Blackett, who was at the time addressing the 36th Anniversary Church Service of the NAB at Restoration Ministries International, observed that the social environment also presents challenges as it has created a setting which increases the vulnerability of older persons.
He explained that in this setting the elderly are often socially excluded and isolated, they are not treated with dignity and worth and participation in activities to promote active ageing based on their needs and capacities is limited.
“Sometimes proposed interventions by the Board to alleviate or resolve these situations are thwarted by the resistance of individuals and families who reject services even where there are needs. Furthermore, there are those situations where there is an acute breakdown in families and communities and the relinquishing of all responsibility for the care of dependent elderly persons, hence the interventions of the organization cannot be sustained over the long term.”
“In light of the challenges, it may be difficult to imagine a future where we create a society for all ages. A society in which there is the same emphasis on the development of programmes for the growing elderly population in the same way that they are structured programmes for children and youth,” he said.
The Social Care Minister also shared with the congregation that the National Assistance Board has been in the forefront of developing and implementing structured activities which are responsive and relevant to the needs of the population it serves.
Blackett said that the design and implementation of such programmes recognize that the needs and capacities of older persons are diverse, and that many of these persons despite their limitations desire to remain in their homes and communities rather than be institutionalized.
“There is the recognition that some needs cannot be met in the community, particularly those requiring medical care and supervision and hence the need for institutional care,” he pointed out. (TL)
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