Health and Wellness Minister Dr Christopher Tufton started his CARE Agenda last week with a focus on the elderly, less than a month after the announcement during his Sectoral Debate Presentation in Parliament.

The health minister launched the first workshop for the Training of Trainers for Home Visits of Older Adults for Geriatric Health, at the Chinese Benevolent Association Centre, University of the West Indies, Mona.

In addition to the training for home care for the elderly, a part of the minister’s healthy ageing agenda, CARE – Community Arranged Response Efforts – will also include programmes for social media and children; menopause and andropause community support systems; lifestyle clinics; fertility and responsible parenting; period poverty and adolescent health; fitness through Jamaica Moves; mental health and community support; and substance abuse and community support.

They are all part of Dr Tufton’s push to strengthen community-based healthcare to improve the quality of life of the Jamaican population.

Speaking during the launch, Dr Tufton said healthy ageing is about much more than treating disease.

Minister of Health Dr Christopher Tufton addressing a post-Cabinet media briefing at Jamaica House. (Photo: Joseph Wellington)

“It is about ensuring that older Jamaicans remain active, independent and connected to their families and communities for as long as possible.”

He said that behind the goal is a group of individuals – unpaid caregivers — whose contribution is often overlooked. Across Jamaica, as in many countries, he said, families and communities provide most care for older persons, a fast-growing section of the population.

“International estimates suggest that almost 75 per cent of long-term care is provided by family members and community caregivers, quietly and selflessly supporting their loved ones every day. With an estimate of 100,000 to 150,000, these caregivers do far more than assist with medical needs. They prepare meals, purchase food and medication, provide transportation to clinics, help with bathing, dressing, feeding and mobility, manage appointments, and offer the emotional support and companionship that protects,” said the health minister, as he heaped praises on people who have been assisting in taking care of the nation’s elderly.

He noted that with approximately 375,000 Jamaicans 60 years and older, making it the fast growing segment of population, and expected to reach 400,000 by 2030, the launch last week is a remarkable achievement of improved healthcare and increased life expectancy, but it also demands that that the country rethink how it cares for the ageing population.

Said Dr Tufton: “Healthy ageing is about much more than treating disease. It is about enabling older people to remain active, independent, and connected to their families and communities for as long as possible. It is also about recognising that quality care begins long before someone enters a hospital or clinic.

“That is why the Ministry of Health & Wellness is advancing a community-based model of geriatric care that brings services closer to the people who need them most. Our approach is built on a simple principle: strong families and strong communities create healthier older adults,” he added.

To achieve this, the ministry will be:

• Launching pilot geriatric clinics in St Ann and St Catherine to provide comprehensive assessments and specialised care for older people;
• Expanding home-based care services through structured home visits led by community health aides and supervised by public health nurses;
• Training healthcare workers and caregivers to recognise early signs of illness, functional decline, caregiver stress, and social isolation;
• Strengthening partnerships with the Ministry of Labour & Social Security, the National Council for Senior Citizens, local authorities, faith-based organisations, and community groups to create an integrated support network;
• Promoting ageing in place, ensuring that older Jamaicans can continue to live safely, independently, and with dignity in their own homes and communities; and
• Supporting community action through the CARE Fund, which seeks to strengthen families, encourage healthier lifestyles, and improve support systems for vulnerable populations.

“As we prepare for the future, our success will not be measured only by the number of clinics we build or the programmes we launch, but by whether our older citizens are able to age with dignity, independence, and the support of families and communities that care,” Dr Tufton said.