Acting Director of the NAB, Andrew Browne, speaking to the media. Looking on is Home Care Manager, Selina Bourne-Ward.
(Standing) Home Care Supervisor, Pamela Perry, assisting some of the individuals at the picnic with their meals.
Programme in demand
THE demand for the National Assistance Board’s Home Care Programme remains high, with as many as 1000 individuals benefiting from the programme on a monthly basis.
Acting Director of the National Assistance Board (NAB), Andrew Browne, explained that as persons leave the programme as a result of being admitted to the Geriatric Hospital or one of the private nursing homes, or even dying, that figure remains relatively constant, sometimes going as high as 1060. This, the acting director said, is because there is no shortage of persons who are seeking that type of assistance, which is not limited to the elderly, but also offered to individuals with disabilities.
He made the comments while speaking to the media yesterday afternoon at Bath, St. John, where the NAB hosted a picnic for approximately 125 persons from the NAB’s Home Care Programme.
“Without our home care service, a lot of people probably would die, would end up in the District Hospital where there’s no space now. Some people would fall through the cracks... so there is great demand,” he said.
His remarks came as he explained that with the challenges posed by the breakdown of the extended family structures and the weakened “sense of community”, the Home Care Programme is being called upon to fill those voids, and provide much needed help for those who cannot help themselves.
Meanwhile, speaking to the purpose of the picnic, Browne told the media that the annual event, now in its 15th year, is one of the various activities they engage in with the elderly in this country, to promote active ageing.
“At the National Assistance Board, we focus on active ageing, ageing actively, and that is where we have picnics, we have scenic rides, we have exercises and dancercise, and different activities that would keep them very, very active. We don’t want to lead a sedentary lifestyle by just being in the house, because some people can just remain at home and do nothing... just receive their care, sit down in a chair and that’s it. But we like to come around and allow for camaraderie. They are among some of their contemporaries and they can talk,” he said.
Browne said the picnic would not have been possible without the support of corporate Barbados. He explained that through a number of hotels and restaurants, they were able to provide yesterday’s meals, while the churches and agencies of Government, including the Barbados Defence Force, assisted with transportation. (JRT)