Governor McCleary endorses Family Visiting Day for seniors [Photoslide Included]
Governor McCleary visited the home yesterday May 23, 2012, to be part of the Family Visiting Day where senior citizens from different centers around Tortola had a great time singing and dancing as they came together at the home in Road Town for their open house celebrations and to witness the launching of Family Visiting Day introduced by Janeth George, Manager of the Adina Donovan home.
In relation to the day being introduced at the Home, Governor McCleary told this news site that it is very important for every community to remember their senior citizens. He added that he agrees that the centers should have an Open Day at least once a year so that the community can remember its senior citizens.
The Governor said that in hearing about the initiative he was really excited for both the home and its residents. “I think it is an excellent initiative.”
“These are the people who have served in the community for many years, who have been school teachers, worked in the public service and have been around for a long time.”
The Governor told this news site that every community has a duty to the senior citizens of the Territory, in order to ensure that they are cared for.
“I am very pleased that we have a very good response to the month and a good response to today’s open day,” he said.
In speaking about the problems that senior citizens suffer all around the world, he said that they are easily forgotten by their loved ones once they are in a home.
He said the families of the residents assumed that they will be looked after, fed, and spiritually guided by the staff “but every one needs people to interact with and interaction is a critical part in remaining alert and remaining well.”
He stated that the more people respond to the initiative, the better the elders who are living in the home would be.
“They would have the opportunity to engage with the outside world, some just to talk and some just to listen. Families should come and just sing a song or whatever they have to do to brighten a resident’s day.”
Meanwhile, Ms. George stated that the day was introduced in an effort to encourage family and friends of the residents of the home to come out and support their loved ones.
Family Visiting Day will be held every 2nd Tuesday of every month, from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m.
“This date and time is specifically designated for families to come in and spend quality time with their loved ones,” said Ms. George.
She stated that even though it’s the staff’s job to love and care for the residents, the families can offer a different kind of love that the residents will definitely appreciate.
Speaking to assistant Manager of the Home Jasmine Joseph, she said that she is very happy for the introduction of the Family Visiting Day.
Ms. Joseph added that the day will have drastic but positive changes on the Home and its residents.
“The residents hardly see anybody. There are some whose families call and there are some who never see their families. Some family members visit daily, some weekly, the others a couple time a year. It’s our job to make them feel as if they are somebody, not just left alone.”
She added that having relatives visiting the home more often will boost the home’s residents, letting them know that there are people still there for them.
The event was attended by residents hailing from the: East End/ Long Look Senior Citizens Center, Long Trench/ Fahie Hill Senior Citizens Centre and the Sea Cows Bay Senior Citizens centre.
The staff of the Adina Donavon Home for the Elderly entertained with a small concert, where they rendered poems, songs, scripture reading and a cultural dance.
The event was chaired by the Chief Social Development officer Mrs. Annie Malone Frett.
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