The Government is committed to providing support to help the island’s older residents, a forum for seniors heard last week.

Tinée Furbert, the Minister of Youth, Social Development and Seniors, addressed attendees at Age Concern’s public general meeting, which was held at the Evangelical Church Hall in Paget last Thursday.

She highlighted the importance of community-wide support for Bermuda’s ageing population and that several initiatives came as a result of the Government’s Midyear Review.

The minister said: “Whether it’s lowering grocery costs, providing financial assistance for medical care or strengthening legislation to protect against financial exploitation; our Government is committed to ensuring that Bermuda’s older adults live with dignity, respect and security.”

She noted the Government’s Dementia Care Pilot scheme, which was designed to assess and support people living with dementia and their caregivers.

Ms Furbert spoke about initiatives such as plans to increase pensions annually and the lowering of grocery costs through duty relief.

She also cited a senior daycare programme as well as healthcare access through a national health plan.

During her address, Ms Furbert encouraged attendees to share their thoughts on the proposed draft of Bermuda’s comprehensive National Seniors Strategy by the October 18 deadline.

The minister said: “To the caregivers and families, we see the sacrifices you make, and we want you to know that you are not alone.

“We must continue this work, knowing that how we treat our elders reflects who we are as a society.”

Mercedes Pringle-DeSilva, the executive director of Age Concern, added: “The success of our programmes speaks to our core mission: ensuring that older adults in Bermuda live with dignity, respect and access to the resources they need.

“We are honoured to serve as the bridge, bringing support, education and hope.”

Edonna Bean, an operations manager of programmes at the charity, spoke about the direct impact of its services.

She said that in the face of challenges such as a two-month waiting list for food support, the charity distributed about $66,000 in aid this year.

Dr Bean explained that $39,000 went towards direct financial support and the remainder as in-kind donations for essential costs like medical bills, rent and living expenses.

Tanya Bule, Age Concern’s board chairwoman, highlighted security matters, including “the growing threat of fraud over the phone and online”.

She said that the issue required vigilance and added: “Seniors are increasingly vulnerable to scams and we must be proactive in protecting them.”