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Last Updated: Feb 6, 2017 - 2:32:04 PM |
ANSWERING THE CALL – Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Works and Urban Development, Philip “Brave” Davis and Minister of Social Services and Community Development, Melanie S. Griffin, gather for a photograph with the Brothers of King David’s Lodge No. 2, Most Worshipful Prince of Peace Grand Lodge. The Lodge answered Minister Griffin’s call for social partners and civic organisations to assist in ensuring that the country’s elderly are properly cared for by ‘adopting’ the facility as part of its outreach programme. Senator Alex Storr is at far right. (BIS Photo/Matt Maura).
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NASSAU, The Bahamas --- The Administrator, staff and caregivers at the Demetrius Home and Care Centre for the elderly were Thursday challenged to continue to make the co-ed senior citizens facility “ a happy home with caring, family members.”
Located on the corner of Fox Hill and Hard Hill Roads, the centre – which was first occupied in May, 2007, and became a co-ed facility four years later, was officially opened Thursday, October 17, 2013 by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Works and Urban Development, Philip “Brave” Davis, who was assisted by Minister of Social Services Melanie Griffin.
The facility is expected to provide “holistic, assisted-living to elderly male and female residents.” The Centre, is managed by the Department of Social Services and falls under the Senior Citizens Division.
“I expect you to provide the highest level of care to all residents,” Mrs. Griffin said. “I implore you to be patient with the residents and above all, to treat them with the respect and dignity at all times and under all circumstances that they deserve.”
Minister Griffin said the facility, which bears the Demetrius family name to whom the property belonged, will continue to be managed in accordance with “accepted principles for older persons.”
It was the wish of Mrs. Margaret Demetrius that the main house and other buildings on the property be utilised as a facility for the elderly prior to her death, “It is my intent that this facility will live up to its guiding philosophy of providing holistic assisted-living, while maintaining a home-like environment for the elderly,” Mrs. Griffin said.
“My ministry will continue to do its part when and where necessary, to ensure that our older persons are cared for and I call on families, individuals, social partners and civic organisations to do the same because even when it becomes necessary for facilities of this nature to be established, our intervention should serve to support, rather than replace the warmth and attentive care of family members or the community.”
Mrs. Griffin said it was during her first tenure as Minister of Social Services and Community Development that Mrs. Demetrius approached ministry officials regarding the possibility of utilising a self-contained building on the property as a home for older persons.
“I can distinctly recall visiting the site with officers from the ministry and being shown around by Mrs. Demetrius whom I had known for many years as a teenager going to her store (Modernistic Dry Goods) on Wulff Road. Little did I know that one day she would call me about the place she had built for a home for older persons, which she wanted Social Services to lease and manage.
“We arranged to meet at the site to see if we could use the place. It was purpose built as the kitchen had commercial utilities and the rooms were all furnished, except for one room which was to be for her own use as she wanted to be able to come over and spend time with the seniors and teach them how to sew.”
Minister Griffin said after some negotiations and “consultations with the Department of Social Services”, approval was given for the building to be utilised as a centre for older males. The first group, along with their caregivers, took up occupancy in May, 2007.
“Mrs. Demetrius continued to make it known her desire for the main house, her home, to become a residential care facility for older persons as well (and) stipulated this in her Will, with the further stipulation that the facility should be called the Demetrius Home and Care Centre,” Mrs. Griffin said.
“Following her demise, the home was made available to the Ministry for use as Mrs. Demetrius stipulated. The main house was occupied on March 9, 2011 and the facility became co-ed with men on one side and women on the other,” Mrs. Griffin added.
Mrs. Griffin applauded the work of Mrs. Janice Evans, administrator, the staff of the Demetrius Home and Care Centre and the staff at the Ministry of Social Services and Community Development and the Department of Social Services for their untiring efforts in “working so diligently in caring for this special group of persons.”
“I also wish to thank the chairperson and members of the National Council on Older Persons for their partnership and commitment to service as we continue to recognise the value of our elderly and keep them engaged in the family and society,” Mrs. Griffin added.
The official opening ceremony, originally scheduled for October, 2012, but postponed due to Hurricane Sandy, was held as part of celebrations commemorating National Older Persons Month.
© Copyright 2013 by thebahamasweekly.com
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