‘Let us commit to keep our elderly out of hospitals’
- CMO calls on families to increase diligence in care of seniors
Published:Saturday | September 7, 2024 | 12:05 AMAinsworth Morris/Staff Reporter
As 2024 winds down to the last quarter — a projected peak season for seniors to be left at hospitals, especially during the Christmas holiday period — Dr. Jacquiline Bisasor-McKenzie, chief medical officer in the Ministry of Health and Wellness, is urging delinquent families to change that mindset and be especially diligent in the care of their elderly.
Addressing the Ministry of Labour and Social Security’s launch of Senior Citizens Month 2024, which was held at The Jamaica Pegasus hotel in New Kingston on Wednesday, Bisasor-McKenzie said:
“I’m going to make a special appeal, since I have the platform, that, as we approach the end of the year, the pressure on our hospitals gets worse. And, just as how we are talking about how we prepare for our older years, I want to say to everybody, ... let us commit now in September to keep our elderly relatives out of hospitals, because we can.”
“We can pay attention to ensuring that they’re get their medication, that they’re taking it as it is prescribed, that we pay more attention to their diets, that we pay more attention to their physical activity, that we make sure that they keep their appointments, that we take the time to visit them, and to talk to them. Because all of these things tend to fall apart approaching Christmas, and our number of persons (who become) uncompliant increases. And then we have this massive increase in the number of visits to the emergency departments ... . I’m making the appeal ... let it be that, this year, we can keep the numbers down by starting what we need to do today,” she said.
She noted that, “The World Health Organization estimates that, by 2030, 1.4 billion people will reach the age of 60 years and older, and, by 2050, this figure will stand at 2.1 billion. Local data shows that 12 per cent of Jamaica’s population are older than 60 years, and the proportion of people in that age group is expected to increase to 16.8 per cent by 2025. That is roughly about 400,000 persons and this is expected to increase.”
“With this expected increase in ageing will come the need for greater access to services, including health and social care for older persons. It will also place the demand for primary healthcare and require a well-trained workforce that is sensitive to the needs of older persons. And, as I am saying this, I am reminded that I get a call almost every day about persons sitting in emergency departments waiting for beds, and there is a huge clamour for more beds in our hospitals. And, when you check, the majority of these persons are older than 60 [years], and the majority of them are there with complications of non-communicable diseases,” Bisasor-McKenzie said.
“More beds take time, and we are certainly working on several projects to increase the number of beds,” she said.
LIFESTAGE APPROACH
The issue of family members abandoning seniors at hospitals for care, had long been identified by Dr Christopher Tufton, minister of health and wellness, as a serious cause for concern within the healthcare community. There have been references to instances where persons drop their loved ones off at the Accident and Emergency entryway at hospitals and return for them at a later time, if they feel like they should. In other instances, they simply do not show up to collect the elderly after they are discharged from hospital care.
Bisasor-McKenzie said the ministry will this year introduce a lifestage approach to health promotion and prevention, with healthcare messages appropriate to the life stage targeting persons who go for doctor’s visits.
These targeted messages include conversations about oral health, managing frailty, nutrition changes and managing depression and feelings of anxiety.“The fact is that older persons are not just more vulnerable, but they represent a valuable resource for the country, and it’s with this in mind, that we must ensure healthy, active aging. The ministry is therefore taking some steps towards transforming healthcare delivery to meet the demands of our ageing population, to give them the best opportunity for their continued contribution to the social and economic well-being of the country after 60 years,” Bisasor-McKenzie said.
“Older people are among the most vulnerable in any population and, for this reason, countries must begin to take a keen look at how their structures will be adapted across sectors to give attention to older persons,” she said.
Senior Citizens’ Month is arranged by the Ministry of Labour and Social Security and the National Council for Senior Citizens. The theme for 2024 is ‘Healthy, Active, Productive Ageing’.
It is observed in September with the last week celebrated annually as Senior Citizens’ Week. The last Sunday in September is celebrated as Grandparents Day, and October 1 as the International Day of Older Persons.