The neglected state of Sandys Rest Home is raising concerns in the community about the living conditions of Bermuda's elderly. One recent visitor to the home told The Royal Gazette she was unable to sleep after her visit to the Government assisted Parish rest home. The woman wrote a letter to the Editor of The Royal Gazette suggesting the community must rally around the rest home to improve conditions for those living in the small cottage. "My hope and prayer is that our Government, our churches or a volunteer group such as Project 100 could visit this home and see what they can do to lend a helping hand to enhance these senior citizens' home environment,'' the woman wrote.

The woman said she had gone to visit a friend and was shocked at what she had seen. "The decor was quite dismal and there were cobwebs in the upper corners of each room that I visited. One bedroom in particular that is assigned for men was congested with beds, chairs and many bureaus with little space for movement. It looked like a fire hazard,'' she wrote. "This room also included a makeshift wicker divider that has a sheet draped over it, which I assumed was to create more privacy for our seniors.'' Yesterday, Minister for Health and Social Services Nelson Bascome admitted there were problems with the home.

But he explained that Government is currently trying to address the needs of seniors in several of Bermuda's parish rest homes -- and some are in even more serious decline. "As bad as you may have seen the facility at Sandys to be, St. George's was worse,'' said Mr. Bascome. Eventually Government had to close that rest home because fire and health officers said it should not operate any Rest home needs community action Mr. Bascome said that immediately upon taking office two and half years ago a survey of all the rest homes was done.

"With Sandys, we recognised a number of improvements that had to be made but we had to prioritise,'' he said.

Last Thursday and Friday, The Royal Gazette visited the home to get an idea of the state of the home. The small, very run-down cottage currently houses 11 seniors but staff said the maximum capacity for the home was 13.

Staff at the home were helpful but would not speak out about conditions at the rest home in the absence of the administrator who was out on both visits made by the newspaper.

The home does need a lot of help, one staff member told The Royal Gazette .

"All the staff feel the same way.'' When administrator Flora Trott was contacted for an interview, she refused to grant an interview. Ms Trott, who only recently took over as administrator, referred all questions to the Parish Council chairman Eugene Maybury.

Several calls to Mr. Maybury went unreturned.

However, people in the community are acting on their concerns. The woman who contacted The Royal Gazette said that she felt she had to try to help the seniors in the home. She said she contacted the newspaper in the hopes of raising public awareness.

The senior she visited seemed desperately unhappy, she said. "But if you haven't any family you don't really have much of a choice, do you?'' After the contribution these seniors have made to the community, they deserve better she added. "These individuals put a lot into the community,'' she said. "They shouldn't have to live in circumstances like this.'' From the little, The Royal Gazette saw conditions were very poor and the environment and furnishings were quite dilapidated -- although everything appeared clean.

The home is located on a hill with the sea nearby although not visible from the small yard at the back. There is a small porch where seniors were clustered on the warm day. Set in a very hilly area, and down a steep driveway, those with limited mobility would have great difficulty moving about the area around the home.

On an Island of much beauty, the rest home stood apart like a scar of neglect.

Mr. Bascome said however that conditions at the home are already improving.

New flooring has been put in at the home and new windows are set to be installed as soon as workmen can be arranged, he said: "Because of where the home is situated, quite a bit of the problems arise because the windows are quite old and the salt wind caused some rot and disrepair,'' he said.

He added further changes are in store for the home but they will hinge on the reorganisation of the rest home network in Sandys.

Mr. Bascome suggested that the old cottage which currently houses the parish rest home may change to a day or assisted living facility with seniors requiring more extensive care moved to either Lefroy House or Packwood Home.

But while Sandys rest home network will be reorganised, right now the Ministry's attention is focused on the east end and the shortage of seniors' facilities there, he said.

He backed calls for community involvement and assistance at Sandys rest home however. "I encourage people in the Sandys community to get involved and lend a hand,'' said Mr. Bascome.