Elderly, caregivers learn to provide better medical services

Whether you fit the definition of a senior citizen or are responsible for an ageing parent or relative, the prospect of providing medical care to the elderly has to be a matter of concern. Today I found out just what we can do to make that task easier and more effective.

Jacqueline Godwin, Reporting
These health care providers are learning how to train families to provide better home care to their elderly. Requests have increased for the special service as there are just not enough residential facilities for older persons in Belize.

Lindy Jeffrey, Executive Dir., National Council on Ageing
?We all recognise that with only three residential homes in that country, that it?s insufficient to look after the older people that actually do need care. So by providing this training we are instructing people who are already care providers, but also people that are on the edge of the services, that actually want?haven?t got the training already, that actually need it so that they work in the community.?

The National Council on Ageing is hosting the workshop as part of the organisations plan of action. The sessions are being facilitated by four visiting specialists who are supported by the Volunteer Action in the Caribbean and the Americas, FAVACA.

The thirty participants are also learning about specific health conditions that affect older persons such as poor blood circulation and diabetes. The N.C.A. is not certain how many elderly persons are being cared for by their families, but the idea is make service available in all communities.

Lindy Jeffrey
?We are very much lacking in exact statistics/data. It?s something that the National Ageing Council really needs to improve on, really needs to undertake. We just know from our service organisations that are out there in the field that the amount of need is increasing. They come and tell us that you know, ?we are inundated with requests and we just don?t have the resources,? the human as well as financial resources to undertake the work.?

The training workshop will run for two days in Belize City before it heads to a conclusion on Friday in the Toledo District.