Tyrone Reid, Staff ReporterSEVERAL OF the nation's old-age homes are screaming for financial support. The struggling institutions have sustained severe injuries after being battered by economically tough times over the years. At least one of the island's homes for the aged has been forced to scale down its operations and another is threatened with closure.
Sources within the homes have revealed that both private and public sector contributions to the maintenance of the homes have been reduced over the years.
The Golden Age Home in May Pen, Clarendon, is facing similar severe hardships, and is threatening to close its doors for good. "If we don't do something, we can't sustain this for much longer. Either we have to send home people or make a public appeal for families to come and take people home," stressed Milton Brown, mayor of May Pen.
Mayor Brown argued that the operations of the home should be financed directly from the Consolidated Fund, but for years, the parish council has been bearing the bulk of the burden. "The allocation is far below what we agreed at budget stage to run the infirmary," he revealed.
WASHING MACHINE, GENERATOR URGENTLY NEEDED
While not denying the woes, Mayor Brown said thanks to the selfless efforts of the staff and the council's administration, the home has not gone 'to the dogs'. Still, he wailed that a heavy-duty washing machine and a standby generator are urgently needed at the home. Mayor Brown told The Sunday Gleaner that during power cuts, especially in recent times, the home has been raided by hungry hoodlums.
"Thieves prey on the place when it goes dark and steal food. They are exposed to all sorts of danger when the light goes." Adassa Morgan, secretary manager at the May Pen Parish Council said. "We have plans for major improvements, but we are badly in need of funds," she said.
Spanish Town's Mayor, Dr. Andrew Wheatley, also reports that St. Catherine's home for the aged has also fallen on hard times. "It is difficult, but we are pulling through," he said. "One of our major hiccups is that we could use some more staff, but we can't afford to do that. But, the present staff is doing a tremendous job."
"It has got increasingly difficult. The amount of money cannot match all the expenses that we have," said Michael Morris, secretary manager at the St. Catherine Parish Council.
