Social Protection Ministry working to ensure elderly care facilities meet minimum standards

DPI, Guyana, Monday, March 19, 2018

The Ministry of Social Protection is working to ensure all registered elderly care facilities meet the minimum standards expected.

Director of Social Services, Whentworth Tanner observed that many of these homes fall short of the minimum standards of ensuring their residents are treated equally, fairly and with dignity, and lead productive lives.

The Director told the Department of Public Information (DPI) in a recent interview, that through the Elderly Residential Facilities Visiting Committee, the Ministry has been conducting regular visits to the facilities to ensure full compliance.

On the issue of those non-registered homes, Tanner noted that the Ministry of Social Protection is collaborating with the Ministry of Health and the agencies to bring them in line with those standards. The Director explained that the aim is not the closure or penalisation of these homes, but rather, to work with them so that they provide the best quality of service.

“…It is not to be punitive, at least not in its embryonic stages, but is for us to work with these homes to build their capacity, so that they can meet the minimum standards,” Tanner further explained.

 

By: Synieka Thorne