Easing the challenges of healthcare for seniors

As Jamaica’s population ages, projections contained in the Economic and Social Survey Jamaica indicate that, by 2025, 16.8 per cent of Jamaicans will be 60 years or older. With this in mind, the need for comprehensive healthcare services tailored to the elderly becomes increasingly critical, and the Louis Grant Medical Centre has become a vital support system for many seniors, providing essential medical care to this growing demographic.

Established to honour the legacy of Professor Louis Grant, the centre recently celebrated its Founders’ Day, drawing a significant number of elderly attendees.

Guest speaker Jean Lowrie-Chin, founder and CEO of the Caribbean Community of Retired Persons (CCRP), lauded the facility’s commitment to affordable healthcare.

She emphasised the importance of public-private partnerships in enhancing primary healthcare delivery, stating, “I hope Health and Wellness Minister Dr Christopher Tufton will tour the facilities here at the Louis Grant Medical Centre. I believe it would inspire him to have more partnerships to increase the delivery of primary healthcare.”

Lowrie-Chin, who has been a tireless advocate for the elderly through the CCRP, also reflected on the challenges she faced when starting the organisation.

“Like any new non-profit, one of the biggest hurdles was the financial challenge of getting it off the ground,” she said. “But what really made the difference was the team of volunteers who came on board and helped spread the word. When you have a dream, you need a team – it cannot just be you alone. And you must always give credit to the team.”

That team included notable founding directors such as the late Lester Spaulding, former chairman of the RJRGLEANER Communications Group, who helped establish the organisation’s accounts, and netball legend Vilma McDonald, a dedicated volunteer. Along with the efforts and the support of PRO Communications Ltd, an advertising agency led by Lowrie-Chin and her husband, the CCRP has grown to more than 12,000 members islandwide.

The impact of the Louis Grant Medical Centre, formerly known as Foundation for International Self Help (F.I.S.H.) and renamed in honour of Grant, is evident in the testimonies of its long-standing patients.

‘I FEEL SPECIAL’

Lavern West, 67, in expressing her gratitude, stated, “I’ve been coming here for a long, long time ... . To know that they really recognise us as patients, I feel special.”

She recounted how the centre’s accurate diagnosis of her fibroid condition led to effective treatment at the University Hospital of the West Indies.

“When I went to the first private doctor, he did not say what it was and I went to F.I.S.H. the following day. Throw away the prescription because he did not say what it was but a doctor here at F.I.S.H., after she tested me, she asked me a question – ‘A doctor ever told you that something was growing in [your] womb?’ I said,’No’. She explained there was a growth but it is not cancer, that [it] is soft.

“She later referred me to the University Hospital of the West Indies and they treated me and [I] got better. That’s why I keep coming back. The doctors here, I believe they are very truthful so, by that, I don’t really trust private doctors more than so. I rather to come to F.I.S.H.”

Similarly, 83-year-old Muriel Williams-Wray, a legacy client, shared her enduring relationship with the centre. Despite her travels to other countries, where she buys things to sell, she consistently returns to Jamaica for her medical check-ups at the facility.

“When I started coming, I used to pay about J$200 when it was located across there. I come to all my appointments from then and I never stopped.

“I used to do housework and buy and sell things. Travelled to Curaçao, Panama and Canada, but I came right back to Jamaica for my check-ups.”

Highlighting her proactive approach to health, she advised, “You have to eat right and consistently go to the doctor. Don’t wait until something happens before getting a check-up.”

For Lowrie-Chin, the importance of facilities like the Louis Grant Medical Centre cannot be overstated.

“This clinic has helped our elderly, low-income persons access top-class medical care. They can see a dentist, a doctor, get glasses – and, as you age, you know, you have sight issues. When I look at the legacy clients here today, they look well, and clearly, that’s because this clinic has treated them so well. That’s exactly the kind of care we’ve been advocating for through the CCRP.”

She believes expanding this kind of care is vital, especially in rural Jamaica where many seniors face mobility issues and lack easy access to healthcare.

“If we had more public-private partnerships, we could increase the facilities at our clinics and even establish smaller, satellite clinics in hard-to-reach areas,” she suggested.

The service of the Louis Grant Medical Centre aligns with national efforts to address the challenges of an aging population. The Ministry of Health and Wellness has prioritised long-term care, recognising that 12 per cent of the Jamaican population is currently over 60, with projections reaching 16.8 per cent by 2025. Initiatives like the Elderly Health Programme aim to improve health literacy and screening among seniors, ensuring they receive the care they deserve.

tiffany.pryce@gleanerjm.com