As the new Geriatric Hospital nears completion, the head of the Barbados Association of Retired Persons (BARP) is urging Barbadians to shift their focus from institutional care to independent living for seniors.
BARP President Marilyn Rice-Bowen welcomed the new US$50 million Waterford facility, which is set to deliver 300 beds in its first phase and eventually expand to 405, complete with rehabilitation services, lounges and daycare. But she cautioned that such infrastructure should not become the default solution for elder care.
“We’re elated because there is a need for space now,” she said, noting that many patients will be transferred from existing hospitals. “But we want to encourage Barbadians to focus on ageing in place.”
Rice-Bowen argued that seniors thrive when they remain in familiar surroundings, with access to their pets, gardens and community life, rather than being confined to hospital rooms.
She called for more retirement homes and senior-friendly housing within residential communities, suggesting developers include such facilities in future plans to combat isolation and support healthy ageing.
“What is going to be happening in Barbados in a very short time is that we have to really, really focus on how we are going to assist our seniors with ageing,” she told reporters on Monday.
Rice-Bowen also urged middle-aged Barbadians to plan ahead by designing homes with accessibility in mind, preparing financially for retirement and adopting healthy habits to preserve independence.
“Even as young people and you’re constructing a property now, construct your property with walk-in showers. See if you can eliminate upstairs and downstairs. Even if you want to go upstairs, you need to make sure that you have a master suite downstairs because you have to plan for the period when you can’t get upstairs,” she advised.
“We don’t want to have a society where we are all sick. You need to take care of your health.”
BARP’s Towards 2050 seminar is already helping middle-aged adults to plan for the future with guidance on housing, health and financial readiness.
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