By Klao Bell, Senior Staff ReporterTHE NEXT two generations of elderly people have already been born and of this group the poor will be most affected by this change of life.
Given the rate of poverty, which is high among the elderly affecting about 30,762 persons severely there will be greater need for housing, health care and other welfare facilities as well as the empowerment of families to support them.
There are in Jamaica at present, 267,500 people over the age of 60 years old. By 2010, that number is expected to be 286,500 while the projection for 2023 is 390,500.
The Programme Co-ordinating and Monitoring Unit in the Office of the Prime Minister has identified the pending need and is recommending that preparations be made. Its 2002 taskforce report on the state of infirmaries cautions:
"The growing number of elderly and high level of poverty dictate that in years to come the society will have increasing need for facilities to house the indigent." The report also said, "The rate of increase in the elderly population, and the increasing number of households with single members who are elderly, have implications for the demand for institutional care."
Mind you, studies show that the majority of senior citizens are physically (88.5 per cent) and mentally (85.9 per cent) well and are living in secure family and community settings. However, the welfare of those on the margin need to be improved if the vision of a healthy, happy society is to be realised.
GENDER-SPECIFIC NEEDS
Other considerations in dealing with an ageing population are the gender specific needs of men and women. There are 124,600 men and 142,900 women over the age of 60. Illness-related death among men accounts for the lower figure. It has also been found that while men have greater need for social care and support, women need financial resources.
While this indicates the need to improve the socio-economic situation of Jamaican women, they have an advantage over men in that they are more likely to be cared for by family and community. However, there are other complications.
Chairperson for the National Council for Senior Citizens, Dr. Denise Eldemire-Shearer, conducted research that found, "the increase in numbers and proportion of the very old" means, "many of the caregivers themselves are elderly." These stark realities call on the authorities to advance the National Policy for Senior Citizens, launched in 1998.
The policy sets targets for housing, social welfare, family, law, national infrastructure, income security, health, research, education and media.
Some of the goals for the elderly in terms of housing and living environment include the provision of "barrier-free and community-integrated accommodation and public facilities," as well as "support for seniors to continue living in their own homes or have a choice of alternative accommodation."
The policy also recommends encouraging financial institutions to increase the age ceiling on loans for building additional rooms or making adaptations to accommodate seniors at home.
Despite the outlook, Dr. Eldemire-Shearer boasts that Jamaica has done well in the care of, provision and preparation for the elderly, in comparison with other Caribbean islands. She said there has been an advisory board on ageing for the past 20 years and that Jamaica is the only Caribbean island with a national plan of action for the elderly, established since 1998.
