Basseterre, St. Kitts, October 04, 2016 (SKNIS): At the launch of the month that commemorates seniors, Senator and Minister of State responsible for Social Services and Community Development, Honourable Wendy Phipps, has commended the staff of the Department as well as institutions and individuals who care for older ones.
“As St. Kitts and Nevis celebrates the Month of Older Persons, we also pause to show our appreciation to the staff within the Departments of Social Services on both islands, for the selfless service they continue to render to our ageing population. We pay tribute, in particular to our 531 home care officers who continue to render at-home care to seniors,” Minister Phipps said.
Both public and private institutions that care for older persons were also acknowledged.
“We also salute the staff of the Cardin Home in St. Kitts and Flamboyant Home in Nevis, along with the staff of the various private sector senior care facilities,” Minister of State Phipps said, while also recognizing individuals who care for their ageing relatives at home. “We realise that caring for the elderly demands special sacrifice. Such a vocation requires special graces from God, and can often be a thankless and stressful undertaking. Yet, such care is imperative, if we are to assist our ageing seniors in living full, dignified and comfortable lives. On this score, the Federal Government also extends sincere gratitude to the various civic, religious and private sector groups that sustain well-needed outreach to our Nation’s older citizens.”
Senator Phipps reminded of the contribution that older ones would have made to the development of the Federation in their younger days.
“Let us never forget that it is our older citizens who toiled and invested in this country to bring it to the present point of development, and the recognition of basic human rights and freedoms that we today take for granted,” she said. “We owe our older persons a major debt of gratitude – and a biblical obligation to care for them “so that our days may be long.”