A new programme aimed at fostering greater awareness of the needs and issues impacting the lives of vulnerable older persons through conversation, consultation and experience sharing is set to begin shortly.

The programme, dubbed "Adopt an Older Person", will seek to rekindle national commitment to improving the plight of the nation’s vulnerable older population and to encourage cooperation and team-work among people at all levels within society.

Spearheaded by the Elder Care Unit of the Division of Human Services, under the auspices of the Ministry of Equity, Social Justice and Empowerment, the programme will solicit the active involvement of individuals, families and community groups/organizations, to reengage with seniors in meaningful and imaginative ways.

Senior Field Social Worker in the Elder Care Unit of the Division of Human Services, Fadia Andrew, said “the idea is for individuals and groups to adopt a senior citizen as a one-off gesture or through repeated gestures demonstrated throughout the length of the programme.”

According to Andrew, individuals and groups can make a gesture of goodwill to an identified vulnerable older person within their respective communities, with no limit on the size or nature of the gestures to be shared,

The interactive engagements Andrew notes, “will not only imbue a sense of pride and accomplishment in members of the public who enroll in the programme to adopt seniors, but will also help in empowering older persons, allowing them to make meaningful contributions that enrich lives, provoke feelings of goodwill, recognition, appreciation and improve their overall wellbeing.”

The Ministry of Equity reminds the citizenry that small cumulative efforts can have tremendous results. Community groups are particularly encouraged to assume personal responsibility for creating a better reality for older persons by making meaningful gestures.

Registration for the Adopt an Older Person Programme commenced on Oct. 1, 2022.

As part of the process individuals and groups must: Identify a vulnerable older person; Identify the urgent needs of the individual; Contact the Division of Human Services or a Social Transformation Officer to register; then implement the gesture/gestures and provide feedback to the Elder Care Unit on the experience. The Division of Human Services can be reached via 468.6570/ 468.6572/ 468.6573/ 468.6574)

In Saint Lucia, like in other parts of the world, although older persons continue to contribute meaningfully to economic, political, civil, social and cultural development, their contributions remain largely invisible and are oftentimes disregarded. Statistical data shows that during the next ten years, the number of older persons in the Caribbean will double. This ageing of the population has important implications for public policy in areas such as pensions, health, and social care services.