Elderly residents urged to take advantage of support services
SENIOR citizens in St Elizabeth and the wider Jamaica are being encouraged to take advantage of the various support services that are available through the Ministry of Labour and Social Security.
Parish organiser for the National Council for Senior Citizens in St Elizabeth, Marieck Morgan, in outlining the benefits for citizens 60 years and older, cited the Meals on Wheels feeding programme, through which persons can access cooked meals or food packages.
“So, you can come in or call to [express a need]. I’ll go in, do an assessment, complete the application, send it to our headquarters, and if it is approved, then whenever food packages are made available… those persons would benefit from this programme,” she said.
Morgan, who was addressing a Social Development Commission (SDC) Community Forum at Maggotty High School on Thursday, said that the ministry also provides home help services.
“So, you might have senior citizens whom you don’t want to take away that sense of independence from them. They might need assistance in doing the things that they need to do on a daily basis... so, we provide home help services [where] volunteers go in and assist them once or twice per week,” she said.
The provision of the senior citizens identification (ID) card is another vital service being offered to the elderly.
Morgan said the card is accepted at banks, doctors’ offices and other select locations and can be used in conjunction with other forms of ID when conducting business.
She said that seniors can visit any of the ministry’s offices across the island to receive an ID free of cost.
The ministry also assists senior citizens with referrals, computer training, skills training and other services.
The SDC community forum was held in partnership with various government agencies, such as the St Elizabeth Municipal Corporation, Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA), National Water Commission, National Works Agency, Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF), and National Solid Waste Management Authority.
Representatives from these entities made presentations on services to benefit residents of Maggotty, Newton, Carisbrook, White Hill, Merrywood, Elderslie, Mulgrave, and Retirement.