The findings from a study on the status of ‘Aging and Health in Dominican Elders’ were presented to the stakeholders at the Public Service Training Center on Wednesday.
The results of the study will serve as a guide for the strategies and implementation of community-based healthy aging programs on the island.
Acting Director of Primary Health Care Services, Dr. Martin Christmas, disclosed that a team of six volunteers has been set up from different organizations that will be contributing to the development of the national policy on Healthy Aging.
Christmas said the development of the policy is a step in the right direction. “The policy has been undertaken in a number of other countries in the region and Dominica thinks that it is about time that we have a system analysis which is one of the first steps,” he said.
Field Officer for the Dominica Council on Aging, Bernice Joseph, said Dominica has recognized that policies must be in place to cater for the elderly. “It was a very informative and very educational program. We have recognized the fact that we have an aging population now and there are certain policies which need to be put in place to cater for those that are ageing and the population to come,” she stressed.
The analysis took into account the older person’s demographic profile, social and environmental factors affecting healthy aging, patterns of lifestyles and behaviors and health literacy.
It also determined the type of services that are currently being offered to the elderly by the government in order to curb these challenges; and the prevalence of Chronic Non-Communicable Diseases (CNCD)’s among the elderly.
The study was spearheaded by the Ministry of Health in collaboration with the Pan American Health Organization in 2009.
It is high time we treat our elders with dignity.
Our country was solid, when these people were younger. They set good examples for us who are coming behind them. They showed us to respect each other, eat healthy, stay out of trouble, positive contributions to our villages, and the country on a whole. And moreover, Give thanks to the creator of the Universe, and love and care for each other.
I am getting old and I am coming to my country to retire. I also have Ideas for our aging communities. I want to have a place of recreation for them to meet with their other friends in a comfortable setting. They could play games, read, laugh, dance, and just having good fellowship with each other. Praises to the persons who came up with these ideas.
so what were the findings of the study
hello?