SENIOR citizens can access support through the National Council for Senior Citizens (NCSC), a department of the Ministry of Labour and Social Security. The NCSC provides in-home help through nurse aides and volunteers who assist with health, personal, and domestic needs.

Another service offered is a feeding programme, through which the NCSC delivers cooked meals and food packages to elderly shut-ins living in the Corporate Area. The council also issues senior citizen identification cards, which can be used to access discounts on various goods and services. To apply for a card, applicants should provide the council with the following:

1) Driver’s licence and passport-sized photo or

2) Passport and passport-sized photo or

3) Birth certificate and passport-sized photo certified by a justice of the peace (stamped and not sealed).

Mental health support

The difficult and inevitable changes that come with getting older may also take a toll on the mental well-being of a previously healthy and independent individual and his or her family members. The Ministry of Health and Wellness’s Mental Health Unit provides a range of treatment services that can help with these challenges. Individuals may call the mental health helpline or visit a public clinic to receive treatment. An islandwide mental health clinic schedule is available on the ministry’s website.

Dealing with illnesses

Several illnesses, such as arthritis, diabetes, and heart disease, often accompany advanced age. Family members caring for elderly people who are ill may find it useful to learn as much as possible about the particular illness. Additionally, they can learn about how it will progress and what to expect at each stage.

Medicine

The National Health Fund (NHF), an agency of the Ministry of Health and Wellness, provides payment subsidies for essential drugs for several chronic illnesses through the Jamaica Drug for the Elderly Programme (JADEP). The programme is open to Jamaicans over the age of 60. To benefit from this provision, applicants should take their tax registration number (TRN) card and a JADEP application form, completed by a physician, to the NHF office. The form should indicate the applicant’s illness(es).

Golden Age Home

The Ministry of Labour and Social Security’s Golden Age Home provides senior living services, which includes physical care, medical care, and occupational therapy. Families may also use private home care facilities.

Other support channels

The NCSC says it is advisable that elderly people and their families make decisions together about the options for care to allow them to choose the best one for the individual’s needs. Discussions, it said, should take into account the provision of necessary specialised care as well as living arrangements.