Social Protection Ministry to expend $60M on ‘Palms’

Some $60 million will be expended this year to do improvement works at the Palms Geriatric Home. This is according to former Minister of Social Protection, Ms. Volda Lawrence.

Lawrence, during a recent interview disclosed that among the improvement measures that will be undertaken will be the inclusion of elevators at the Brickdam, Georgetown facility. The three-flat edifice is one that serves as a residence for elders, some of whom are barely mobile independently. For this reason, the Minister said that it was seen as imperative for the elevator system to be put in place. “We have seniors there, some of whom are unable to move as quickly as we can,” said Lawrence as she pointed out that staffers will benefit considerably from this system too. “There are staffers there who must fetch laundry up the stairs (and) the breakfast and lunch (too) (for the seniors) and so on, and by the time they get up (the stairs) these are cold.” “We are going to put in these lifts and it will cost us around $60 million, but it is a worthwhile investment so that all of these can be taken care of,” said Minister Lawrence.

The Minister had also revealed that efforts were also being made for a change in the space at the facility in order to set up an infirmary. Once in place, the Minister said the residents will not have to be taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation for medical attention. Currently the seniors are taken to the public hospital to access needed health care. The institution, according to Minister Lawrence, currently has two doctors assigned to it who will be able to better render care to the residents in the infirmary. (Kaieteurnews.com)