STAY WELL & SPARKLE: Slipping into the Sunset

An immigrant in Paris committed suicide. His remains were discovered when his house was finally auctioned off EIGHT YEARS LATER. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2473491/Security-guards-body-Paris-flat-8-YEARS-killed-himself.html I know they say ‘see Paris and die,’ but after all, this is taking it too far man!

Okay. Let us shift gears a bit and break bread together over more sublime stuff. Last week, in ‘Dominican Sunrise,’ we talked about how to bestow upon our youth born in the Diaspora, a sense of belonging and ownership by conferring non-voting citizenship. Today, we delve into ‘Slipping into the Sunset’ by exploring factors affecting return for retirement and rest in the land of our birth. Healthcare, of course, is a foremost consideration. We ask ourselves the hard questions: Are there available resources and programs to care for me? Will they communicate reliable feedback when I express my needs? Is it safe and reliable? Journey with me as we go from the unpleasant to the pleasant, from the known to the unknown.

This week’s sporadic rains could not dampen the spirits of the thousands of visitors and locals revelling in what was affectionately called Creole ‘Labu’ in the Park. Neither was it a show stopper for the pulsating mega-jam that followed – the World Creole Music Festival. Indeed, there is much to celebrate. Medical care at the district level is free for those over 60 and under 16 – no headaches, pure and simple. Elder discounts for the already relatively low hospital fees are available upon age verification.

Our subsidized healthcare system has more in common with England and Canada in that, it is patient-centered rather than profit-centered. Critical input from Cuba and to a lesser extent, China and Venezuela, helps make that possible. Clinical Dean and native Dominican, Dr. Gerald Grell, champions Ross University’s invaluable support of multiple outpatient facilities, including the professional staffing for the Oncology Clinic at Princess Margaret Hospital. All of this contributes to a healthcare delivery system that is the envy of the developing world – even well before our own Dr. Carissa Etienne was elevated to head the Pan-American Health Organization, (PAHO).

Government policy over the 35 years of independence has aggressively promoted higher education. As a result, Dominica boasts a very high per capita ratio of healthcare workers. There is no such thing as “I am just a nurse” here. Nurses in Dominica are more highly trained than their peers in bigger countries. Community health nurses provide the vital glue that ensures no one falls between the cracks. Ceasarina Ferrol, Principal Nursing Officer, points out that her team functions seamlessly with physicians in carrying out important responsibilities, both in hospital and outpatient settings. It is no surprise therefore, that our nurses are highly recruited overseas – which, incidentally, is a two-edged sword.

When I was in training as a surgeon in the US, I heard that a once top ‘controller’ (from back in my high school days) was in living in an in a neighboring town. They said he was not doing well so I decided to pay him a visit. He was on his last lap, a mere shell of his former large-and-in-charge self. He was living in a hole of an apartment, in abject squalor, utterly alone and in dire need. Ailass. No one deserves such a fate. He was Dominican and we help our own. I did what I could, when I could. Yet nothing can replace the warm embrace of family and friends as one awaits eternal release.

Now, let me tell you something: If my opening felt a bit dramatic, it was to declare in no uncertain terms, that something like this could never happen in Dominica! Here’s why: Sr. Henrietta Pond runs an organization called R.E.A.C.H. (Reaching Elderly Abandoned Citizens Housebound). It works with Matilda Royer’s Council on Aging and District Medical Clinics to identify at-risk individuals for services: transportation for medical appointments, meals on wheels, supply of assistive devices, bathing and laundry services, adult day-care outings and much more http://www.reachdominica.org/ . Various churches around the island, are socially conscious in translating to the Good News into practical assistance for the needy in terms of soup kitchens, clothing and housing. This constitutes the kind of solid safety net that some unfortunate immigrants in advanced countries could only wish for.

The Infirmary today is a far cry from the old ‘waysiniay’ and a growing number of private nursing homes provide a potential niche in the economy. Euros, dollars and pounds stretch a long way in Dominica, affording doctor house-calls and excellent household help. Many, who never lived in Dominica before, and have now built homes here, maintain that this is the best water in the world. They enjoy fresh air, an abundance of fish, fresh fruit and vegetables. Crime is being controlled by one of the most professional police forces in the developing world. Overall, this translates into Dominica having among the highest rates of people living over a hundred. Never underestimate the number of people overseas who have heard of the ‘Ma Pampo Effect’ and want to experience it. They join a vibrant and burgeoning community of retirees from different parts of the world, savouring the simple, tranquil lifestyle.

Because of obligations to their children and grandchildren in their new/adopted homeland, it is obviously not practical for every Dominican to return. So don’t even think of coming down all at once! Nevertheless, complex healthcare and end-of-life decisions tend to be last on the agenda. And oftentimes, it becomes quite overwhelming. Especially for those living in the US, when grandma has to go to the doctor, how often can you get time off work? How do you take full advantage of enhanced Medicare and Medicaid benefits in the era of Obamacare? That is where it helps having a professional consultation with someone who has gone through what you are going through. http://carewen.com/

As a signer of a fair share of death certificates, I have seen a thing or two of how families handle that leap into the Everlasting arms. Sometimes it is not very pretty. Adult children who may have not visited or sent a little something in ages, often demand a deciding vote on their parent’s end-of-life medical dilemmas. Even before the deceased turns cold, who are the first ones on the scene carting away heirloom that others had their eyes on?

That reminds me of a passage in my favorite Faith Chapter, Hebrews 11: “By faith, Joseph, when his end was near, spoke about the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt and GAVE INSTRUCTIONS concerning the burial of his bones.” Joshua 24: 32 details how his people fulfilled his wishes: “Joseph’s bones, which the Israelites had brought up from Egypt, were buried…in the parcel of land, in the hill country of Ephraim.”

It is rather uncomfortable for the average person to contemplate. However, now is the time to make arrangements which prevent chaos and lifelong hard feelings among relatives. In case you hear ‘time’s up’ sooner than expected, you will be glad you gave will/probate instructions to your family through a leading Caribbean-American lawyer who has helped many Dominicans along the way http://marylandattorneyatlaw.com/index.html . My father made his wishes known. Gaibu ensured that he had a touching send-off memorial service in his adopted home-state of Maryland. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FDbPx13ZCSM . Family then carried out instructions, escorting him on his final farewell journey to lie in state at his beloved Fire Brigade. Home is where the heart is.

Dominica is not just a small state with an incredibly rich cultural history, a rejuvenating environment that happens to be refreshingly forward-thinking. It is also exquisitely welcoming to visitors, returnees, and retirees, looking to spend their precious days in the warm embrace of the quintessential Nature Isle. After a lifetime of successful decision-making, you do not want to leave your golden years up to chance. You do not want to be just another statistic, just an after-thought on a big, big, big obituary page. Where you choose to meet Papa God, blesses the hands into which you commit your legacy. Make sure that when you slip into the sunset, you do so with such grace and dignity that it leaves a lasting sparkle in the hearts of your loved ones.

Dr. Sam Christian is an American-trained surgeon who runs the newly-opened Urgent Care on 137 Bath Road. It offers general medical care, minor surgery, acupuncture microdermabrasion and Botox. To schedule your free wellness visit and tour of the facility, call 440-9133 or write [email protected].