High Medical Costs & Isolation Concern Elderly

Contact: John Emmanuel

Wednesday, January 26, 2000 - The high cost of medical care, isolation, loneliness and lack of respect are among issues of concern topping the list for scores of elderly St. Lucians, interviewed as part of a study by Help Age International. Preliminary findings of the study were released Tuesday, January 25, 2000 as the Ministry of Health, Human Services, Family Affairs and Gender Relations, convened a one-day workshop as part of government’s efforts in formulating a National Policy and Programme to address the needs of older persons on the island.

Permanent Secretary in the Ministry Marcia Philbert-Jules says, the study’s terms of reference were comprehensive, so as to come up with detailed findings and possible working solutions to improve the quality of life and ensure the full involvement of older persons in society.

"This project takes on significant importance at this point in our lives. We must give due recognition to older persons. Although older persons in our population represent under 10% we think it is timely to start planning and preparing for them in a more consistent manner. In fact, this project has special focus on women because when we look at our statistics, only 15% of women above sixty are economically active when we know for a fact that women in St. Lucia have a longer life expectancy than males. The average is about 74 years for women as compared to 67 years for men," Philbert-Jules said.

Health Minister the Honourable Sarah Flood Beaubrun has promised that the many recommendations emanating from the STABEX Funded study, will not simply sit on the shelves within her ministry, but will form part of government’s comprehensive strategy at managing health care on the island.

According to Minister Flood-Beaubrun "at the Ministry of Health we recognize that while short and medium term intervention is necessary to meet the challenges which confront us, in order to have real effect, these interventions must be embodied in a comprehensive and holistic strategy that will provide real and sustainable solutions to problems. This comprehensive strategy in other words must develop the internal ability to react to and to deal with problems confronting older persons on a continuous basis. That strategy must go even further to include the concept of healthy aging."

Other aspects of the report dealt with recreational activities, educational programmes for the elderly as well as matters relating to long-term support such as pension benefits together with issues of physical and verbal abuse. The final report is to be presented to health officials in coming weeks.

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