Changes have been made at the National Office for Seniors and the Physically Challenged (NOSPC), an organisation which has been “strongly criticised in a series of stories by The Royal Gazette for failing to ensure proper protection for seniors”, according to Minister of Health, Seniors and Environment Jeanne Atherden.

The changes were brought forward as a result of Government concerns with the operations, said Minister Atherden in a statement, who also said the “good care” of seniors was a Government priority.

They include:

• Staffing changes at the National Office for Seniors and the Physically Challenged (NOSPC) to ensure the office carries out its responsibilities in an effective and timely manner. Ms Atherden said she had been “impressed” by the commitment of the new staff to the welfare of seniors and to strengthening the performance of the office.

• The implementation by the NOSPC of a new inspection regime to make sure the operators of rest homes and nursing homes uphold standards of care.

• A review of all aspects of the NOSPC, from vision and mandate to mission and staffing. “That review was received last week and its recommendations will be used to make sure the office fulfills its mission to ensure proper care and protection for the Island’s seniors,” said the statement.

The Minister was quoted as saying: “All of these changes are designed to make sure existing standards of care and protection are upheld, and to raise standards wherever necessary.”

They include at least two unscheduled visits each year and one scheduled visit, which is linked with an annual registration process.

The statement said that since June 2014, NOSPC staff have made at least one unscheduled visit to each of the 19 homes. In all, 25 unscheduled visits have been made in that period.

“The implementation of these unscheduled visits has had a noticeable impact on the state of the residential homes,” the Minister said. “While we have improvements still to make, we have definitely seen a positive change.”

Minister Atherden also noted that the NOSPC’s coordinator for seniors had initiated monthly meetings with the administrators of residential care homes. These meetings give NOSPC the chance to discuss issues and review service standards.

“Along with unscheduled visits and administrator meetings, the Ministry, NOSPC and Age Concern have been working together to discuss the implementation of a system of accrediting care homes in Bermuda,” the Minister said. “Accreditation will provide residents, their families and the public in general with an assurance that each home has reached a recognised quality of care standard. Linking the legal requirement to register care homes with an accreditation standard will produce long-term benefits.

“We have to educate the young and middle aged on the importance of planning for their retirement and old age. We need to promote the concept of ‘active ageing’ and the benefits of seniors ageing at home, and only transition to residential care when really necessary.

“We need to ensure that we have sufficient long-term care capacity, and at a quality and price that is accessible.

“This is a big challenge, one that will take a community-wide effort to bring about. To that end, I will be appointing a new seniors advisory council. The council will include a broad cross-section of the community who will serve as a policy resource for the Ministry and be tasked with finalising a national ageing plan. As a community, we have to encourage and support collaboration, coordination and action across all sectors to address the opportunities and challenges of ageing.”

The Minister also addressed the issue of selection of a nursing home. When it comes to selecting a rest home or nursing home, the senior and their family have the right and the responsibility to choose the home that will be the best fit for their needs, it was noted.

“However, when there are more applicants than beds, as is the case with the Government operated homes, Sylvia Richardson and Lefroy House, there must be a system for assessing and prioritising placement. This is the role played by the Community Assessment and Referral Team (CART) which reviews applications and recommends placement in the Government homes.

“As Bermuda’s population ages, it becomes even more important for us to plan for the future.”