ELDERLY RESIDENTS LANGUISHING IN HOSPITAL AS FAMILIES STRUGGLE WITH CARE

Shereen Flax-Charles of the National Democratic Party has raised alarm over the number of elderly people stuck in Dr. D. Orlando Smith Hospital because relatives lack the means or skills to look after them at home.

Speaking on the NDP's radio show this week, Flax-Charles cited figures suggesting 30 to 40 seniors are living permanently at the facility, a situation she says is draining resources from the BVI Health Services Authority. She called on an NDP government to prioritise building an assisted living facility to address the gap.

The core issue, Flax-Charles explained, is that owning a home or having family members present does not guarantee an elderly person receives proper care. Many relatives simply lack the training, qualifications or financial capacity to manage a senior's medical and daily needs.

"They're not qualified, certified or able to give the kind of care that these elderly persons really need," Flax-Charles said.

She stressed that families are not necessarily seeking free housing from government. Instead, many admit their relatives to hospital knowing trained staff and resources are available there, then find themselves unable to retrieve them because care at home remains out of reach.

Flax-Charles also noted that many of these seniors have contributed significantly to the Territory over their lifetimes and warrant better support.

Earlier Plans Shelved

Ronnie Skelton, an At Large Representative and Opposition Member, linked the current crisis to proposals his NDP administration had pursued while he served as health minister. The government had planned a residential community at Spooner's Estate to house seniors with varying care needs: some requiring full nursing support, others needing supervision and assistance with tasks like taking medication.

Skelton acknowledged the plans require fresh consideration. He noted that Hurricane Irma in 2017 disrupted the project, forcing planners to start over.

The Spooner's Estate proposal had been in circulation since at least 2012. The design included nursing and assisted living wings, plus a chapel, retail shop, salon, gardening area and spaces for recreation. Government budget documents from 2013 listed it as a phased scheme to relocate the Adina Donovan Home for the Elderly to that location.