Government will do its best to make the elderly comfortable
–Minister Ally says at commissioning of new facilities at the Palms
Georgetown, Guyana – (September 20, 2018) The Government of Guyana will continue to invest in its senior citizens to ensure that they are comfortable in their golden years, Minister of Social Protection, Ms. Amna Ally said that. She made these remarks at the Palms Geriatric Home, where she commissioned three new elevators and a rehabilitated ward.
“The Ministry of Social Protection and the Government of Guyana recognises the importance of our elderly and we try as far as practicable, to make life comfortable for them. What we have done here today, will benefit not only the residents of the Palms but also the staff who have various functions to ensure that they provide excellent service,” the Minister said.
She added that her Ministry also has a number of other projects on the cards to improve the institution and the service it provides. “Very soon, with the help of the Islamic Development Bank, we will be seeing the provision of other facilities,’ she informed.
Administrator of the Palms, Ms. Samantha Douglas said that the renovation of the Palms is a great improvement for the residents, as it makes for a much more comfortable environment. She added that it will do well to assist in removing much of the stigma attached to the institution.
“I think it is a great improvement for the residents in many ways because we know the stigma attached to the Palms, so with the refurbishing of the wards, it makes them much more comfortable and with the lift installed, there is now easy access to and from the wards,” she said.
The installation of the three elevators to serve each block of the institution and the rehabilitation of the ward completes the capital projects that were budgeted for by the Ministry for institution this year.
The Ministry of Social Protection has been trying to raise the standard of geriatric residential facilities and in 2016, launched its minimum standard guidelines for elderly residential facilities in Guyana. At the time of the launching the guidelines, a six member visiting committee was also launched to ensure compliance with rules and regulations and maintain the standards the guidelines set out to achieve.
Today’s commissioning ceremony was also attended by Minister within the Ministry of Social Protection, Mr. Keith Scott, Permanent Secretary, Ms. Lorene Baird, Director of Social Services, Mr. Wentworth Tanner and other senior management officials of the Ministry.