CARE FOR OLDER PEOPLE

AND THOSE WITH SPECIAL

NEEDS
By: Selena Balkaran
Mercedes Peters
Chandelle Bradshaw

CAUSE OF THE SOCIAL ISSUE

In the past, older people may have expected
their grown up children to care for them in their old
age. However, this is not so common in todays
society because families are fragmented with people
migrating for work and so on. Providing care for
older persons and those with special needs may be
both difficult and time consuming.

EFFECTS AND PROBLEMS

 Cognitive Challenges:

Aging results in normal changes in cognition. Three specific changes occur:

i. Reduced processing speed,
ii. Greater tendency to be distracted,
iii. Reduced capacity to process and remember new information at time.
This makes them very vulnerable.

.Abuse:
As elders become more physically frail, they are less able to
stand up to bullying and or fight back if attacked.
i. Seeing and/or hearing may become impaired,
ii. Their ability to think and understand clearly,
iii. Mental or physical ailments.
iv. Their resistance to care makes them vulnerable and become
the target of abuse

 Physical Barriers
i.
ii.
iii.
iv.
v.

Narrow Doorways
Poor Signage
Inadequate Bathroom Facilities
Inaccessible Parking Areas
Insufficient Support Facilities in the home

. Financial Cost
. Unavailability of Treatment and Equipment within the
country
. Time Consuming
. Inadequate Competencies, Training and Education
. Difficulties in Accessing Educational Institutions
. Mobility

 Inability to secure gainful employment

i. Discrimination
ii. Adverse Reaction of Customers and Employees

STRATEGIES
Social Welfare Division
The mandate is as follows:
a) To provide income support to persons over 65 who satisfy other
criteria of income and residence.
b) To provide income support to the disabled, between ages 18 and less
than 65, and who satisfy other criteria of income and residence.
c) To provide financial assistance to the infirm and needy.
d) To provide assistance on behalf of children whose parents have died,
deserted, or are ill, or imprisoned.
e) To enhance the quality of life of recipients and other necessitous
persons.
f) To ensure the propriety of adoption procedures and the welfare of
children so placed.

 Public Assistance Grant

A Public Assistance Grant would therefore aim to provide financial
support to meet the needs of necessitous persons who are prevented
by some disability from earning a living.
Disability Assistance Grant
A person aged 18 years and above that is unable to earn a livelihood
for him/herself and has been certified by a Medical Officer as being
so disabled would be allowed to receive this grant.
Laws should be passed stating by which all public buildings or places
of employment should have the essential facilities for disabled
persons to be accommodated.
Enlist the support of family members
Education of the general public churches, schools, etc
Public transport should be equipped to accommodate disabled persons

AGENCIES
World Health Organizations
United Nations Association of Trinidad and Tobago
The Ministry of Health
Various Outreach Programs in Religious Organizations
Example: Living Waters Community and St. Vincent De
Paul
The Ministry of Community Development , Culture and the
Arts Community Development Division
The Ministry of Social Development and Family Services Social Welfare Division

 ABMA Building
55-57 St. Vincent Street, Port of Spain
Tel:
+(686)623-6142
Fax: +(686)625-8291

82 Independence Ave., San Fernando

Tel: +(868) 657-5866 +(868)6536068
Tel/Fax: +(868) 653-4319

Siparia Administrative Complex

Cor Allies & High St, Siparia .
Tel1:
+(868) 649-2428
Tel2:
+(868) 649-1942

Tam Building, Glen Road Scarborough, Tobago.

Tel:
+(868) 639-2673
Tel/Fax: +(868) 639-2673

16 Richardson St. ,Mahaica, Pt Fortin / La Brea

Tel1:
+(868) 648-3295
Tel/Fax: +(868) 648-1751

Eleanore Street, Chaguanas

Tel1:
+(868) 665-3282
Tel2:
+(868) 645-4778
Tel/Fax: +(868) 671-4978

THANK YOU FOR

WATCHING