The government of Dominica has announced a national advisory board to handle matters concerning the elderly on the island.
Minister of State in the Ministry of Health with Special Responsibility for Seniors Security Cassandra Williams, said this board will provide improvements in the care of the elderly. She spoke during a press briefing held at the Financial Center on Monday.
“I wish to announce today that to improve our system of care to our country’s seniors the government of Dominica will establish an advisory board to coordinate the health and social care support for the elderly in Dominica,” she stated.
“This advisory board will provide leadership, propose a multi-disciplinary approach, and make strategic recommendations for improvements in systems and processes for the delivery of care services to seniors.”
She noted that some of the areas of focus will include reviews of processes of care, ethics, clinical and social care, and the physical environment.
The minister also stated that in essence, the board will promote a structured approach to the development and provision of elderly services, oversee the availability of and access to medical care, devise targeted interventions to address their specific health issues, ensure their proper nutrition and promote their overall well-being within our society.
“The board will comprise of representatives of a number of local institutions involved in the provision of care services to the elderly.”
The board will act in an advisory capacity to the prime minister and the Ministry of Health Wellness and Social Services and will be chaired by Ms. Marie Therese Junkere the owner of Premium Home and Residential Care Services (PHARCS).
The members of the board are as follows:
Chairman- Marie Therese Junkere owner of PHARCS, Dr. Lenora Drigo – Director of Primary Healthcare Services, Delia Giddings Stedman – Chief Welfare Officer, Cecilia Hamilton- Director of Yes We Care Program, Janice Jean-Jacques Thomas- Director of Dominica Social Security, Cecil Clark – Member of PHARCS, Isline Titre- Retired District Education Officer, Varone Nicholas– President of the Dominica Dementia Foundation, Clannis Jno- Baptiste- Director of Dominica infirmary, Ariane Magloire, Physiotherapist, Dr. Curtis St. John- Medical Doctor, Noelize Knight Didier- Lawyer, Ashton Riviere – President of the Northern home for the Injured, Vina Royer- Advocate for Cancer Society President of Council of Aging, Pricella Prevost- nutritionist, representative of the Grotto Home and Dominica Council on Aging and Melissa Morgan Director of Gender Affairs, among others.
Meantime, Chairman of the National Advisory Board, Marie Therese Junkere, stated one of the board’s first priorities will be to advise the government of Dominica on the creation of a national dementia plan.
She revealed that according to the World Health Organization’s guidance towards national dementia plan, 50 million people worldwide currently live with dementia; a condition that causes a significant psychological burden as well as social and financial distress to those living with it, their careers, and their families.
“The government of Dominica recognizes that a comprehensive multi-sectoral public policy response aimed at addressing the needs of people with dementia, the [caretakers] and families is needed.”
Another priority for the board, she said is the case for enacting legislation to make elder abuse a crime.
“It is urgent that we address the extent and complexity of elder abuse, we hear horror stories all the time about people taking people’s land, people transferring properties into their names, people collecting people’s pensions or placing their names on elders’ accounts and using the money not for the elder but for themselves,” she explained.
The Chairman said Dominica is an aging population and persons must address the extent and complexity of elder abuse.
The birth of this advisory board to purportedly look into the needs and care of the elderly was initiated primarily to ward off stinging criticisms from the public. This did not come about because Roosevelt has had an epiphany overnight.
Lying Roosevelt cares only about his dear Melissa and his children. Every other Dominican can go to hell.
Today, Mr. Fontaine Thompson is going back before a magistrate for a bogus charge that has been in the court for six (6) years now. The corrupt regime so far has spent a colossal amount of the an expensive Trinidad lawyer to harass law abiding citizens. Why couldn’t this hundred of thousands of dollars go to the welfare and upkeep of the elderly?
I don’t want to sound too critical…… but I’m a critic
That line up of professionals looks like an all star line up……you give de impression that now we going to see miracles.
I bet de present board running de grotto have a list of stars on it too……….but what can we boast of about dem……they even hiding…..soo long
By de way…….will this new advisory board be able to help de workers get all their outstanding monthly remuneration?
You see all through this dlp government in office we see a lot of stars come in government and around it to……….de issues still on people back…..never change!
I don’t expect a miracle…….too much stars….that dazzle will leave room for de same results.
Dem same stars and lookalikes surrounding skerrit now………and we still get to this point.
That’s an interesting professional looking pretty bandage …….I don’t think Dat sore was cleaned first though……accountability.