Senior citizens homes on Tortola & VG still overcrowded years later
It remains unclear what is the Government’s official policy for placing the elderly there, however, Officials at the Home and the Ministry of Health and Social Development have complained for years that the public has used the home as a dumping ground for loved ones they could no longer take care of, or in cases where families are overseas and the state has to become the caretaker.
Testifying before the 2016 House of Assembly’s Standing Finance Committee (SFC) on the Budget, Chief Social Development Officer in the Social Development Department, Mrs Anne Malone-Frett told the Committee that the Adina Donovan Home needed the most assistance in terms of funding.
Mrs Malone-Frett also stated that at the end of 2015 the ‘Operational Expenses’ of the home was over spent by some $13,000.00, however, she did not give a breakdown as to how the funds were spent.
She further stated that her Department has created an admission policy that looked at the issues related to the admission and discharge of persons from the Home. The Chief Social Development Officer said the draft copy of the admission and discharge proposal will be sent to the Ministry of Health and Social Development.
Proposal for more space
Also before the Standing Finance Committee (SFC), the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health and Social Development Ms Petrona N. Davis told lawmakers what her Ministry was planning to do with the funding allotted to them under the development projects. She told the SFC that the Ministry plans to move the administrative unit of the Home to the old Peebles Hospital where the pharmacy was located.
Ms Davis further explained that “there would be a better separation of residences which would alleviate the situation until a new home was constructed.”
The Permanent Secretary also confirmed that the BVI Health Services Authority had granted permission for the Ministry to use the old Peebles Hospital for that purpose, following a question from Leader of the Opposition and Third District Representative Hon Julian Fraser RA.
VG Home for the Elderly overcrowded also
There are reports also reaching our newsroom that the home for the elderly in Valley, Virgin Gorda is also overcrowded and it’s alleged that residents are living in less than dignified conditions. A few years ago the Virgin Gorda Public Works Department was relocated from next to the Virgin Gorda Elderly Home.
Many of the residents and staff used to complain for many years about the dust, noise and poor outside conditions.
The National Democratic Party Government has put a stop to the construction of the new elderly home on Tortola for lack of funds.
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