Review and Evaluation of
Progress Towards the
Implementation of the Brasilia
Declaration in the Caribbean
Subregional Headquarters for the Caribbean
15th Monitoring Committee
<AGENDA NUMBER AND TITLE>
The Caribbean
For the purposes hereof, the Caribbean
comprises Antigua and Barbuda, The
Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica,
Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Saint Kitts and
Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the
Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago,
as well as number of associate members of
ECLAC and other territories.
Subregional
Headquarters
for theSubregional
Caribbean Headquarters
15th Monitoring
13 April
2015
for theCommittee
Caribbean
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Methodology for review
• ECLAC commissioned consultants to produce
national reports for 11 countries.
• The government of Trinidad and Tobago
produced a national report.
• Each national report contains an inventory of
government actions aimed at older persons
and identifies priorities for future action.
• This subregional review of progress is based
on these 12 national reports.
Subregional
Headquarters
for theSubregional
Caribbean Headquarters
15th Monitoring
13 April
2015
for theCommittee
Caribbean
<AGENDA NUMBER AND TITLE>
3
Progress towards implementation,
2007 - 2012
• Action in a wide range of areas in Antigua and
Barbuda, Barbados, Jamaica, Trinidad and
Tobago.
• Actions in response to approximately half the
main recommendations: Bahamas, Dominica,
Grenada, St. Kitts and Nevis, and Saint Lucia.
• Fewer actions were reported in Guyana, Saint
Vincent and the Grenadines, and Suriname.
Subregional
Headquarters
for theSubregional
Caribbean Headquarters
15th Monitoring
13 April
2015
for theCommittee
Caribbean
<AGENDA NUMBER AND TITLE>
4
Policy areas where there
was most progress
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•
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Social security
Equitable access to health services
Promotion of healthy lifestyles
Training for health workers
Social support and care
Support for carers
Promoting a positive image of old age
Subregional
Headquarters
for theSubregional
Caribbean Headquarters
15th Monitoring
13 April
2015
for theCommittee
Caribbean
<AGENDA NUMBER AND TITLE>
5
Policy areas where there
was least progress
• Human rights protection and elimination of
discrimination, abuse, and violence
• Monitoring of long-stay institutions
• Access to health care for older persons with
disabilities or living with HIV
• Palliative care
• Access to credit
Subregional
Headquarters
for theSubregional
Caribbean Headquarters
15th Monitoring
13 April
2015
for theCommittee
Caribbean
<AGENDA NUMBER AND TITLE>
6
Economic security
• Access to decent work: increases to retirement
ages in three countries, with increases
planned in at least two others.
• Social security: index linking of benefits (The
Bahamas, also Barbados), and new benefits
(Antigua and Barbuda, Saint V. & G., Guyana);
further improvements needed.
• Access to credit opportunities: little action
except in Trinidad and Tobago.
Subregional
Headquarters
for theSubregional
Caribbean Headquarters
15th Monitoring
13 April
2015
for theCommittee
Caribbean
<AGENDA NUMBER AND TITLE>
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Health services
• Equitable access: Significant extensions to
availability of free care and/or medication in
The Bahamas, Dominica, and Jamaica.
• Creation of palliative care services: little action
taken.
• Care of older persons with disabilities or living
with HIV: little action focused specifically on
older persons.
Subregional
Headquarters
for theSubregional
Caribbean Headquarters
15th Monitoring
13 April
2015
for theCommittee
Caribbean
<AGENDA NUMBER AND TITLE>
8
Health services
• Monitoring the health of the older population:
Occasional surveys in some countries.
• Promoting healthy lifestyles: Many good
health education and promotion initiatives.
• Human resource training in Geriatrics and
Gerontology: The University of The West
Indies provides some training but more is
needed. Many countries have training
programmes for care workers.
Subregional
Headquarters
for theSubregional
Caribbean Headquarters
15th Monitoring
13 April
2015
for theCommittee
Caribbean
<AGENDA NUMBER AND TITLE>
9
Care services
• Monitoring long-stay institutions: Some action
in T.&T. and Barbados; a majority of national
reports identified this as a future priority.
• Social support: There is some provision of
home care services in all countries except
Guyana, Saint Lucia, and Suriname.
• Support for carers: In over half of reporting
countries there are day care centres and/or
activity centres for older people.
Subregional
Headquarters
for theSubregional
Caribbean Headquarters
15th Monitoring
13 April
2015
for theCommittee
Caribbean
<AGENDA NUMBER AND TITLE>
10
Enabling Environments
• Promoting participation: Innovative schemes
in T.&T. and Jamaica; active associations of
retired persons in Barbados, Jamaica, and
Antigua and Barbuda; more participation
needs to be encouraged in other countries.
• Accessibility of public space and adaption of
housing: Several initiatives in Barbados;
smaller scale actions elsewhere; a priority for
future action in many countries.
Subregional
Headquarters
for theSubregional
Caribbean Headquarters
15th Monitoring
13 April
2015
for theCommittee
Caribbean
<AGENDA NUMBER AND TITLE>
11
Enabling Environments
• Human rights protection and elimination of
abuse: Little progress towards legislation on
the human rights of older people; a priority
for future action.
• Promoting a positive image of old age: Many
countries celebrate International Day of Older
Persons (1st October). A range of positive
actions by associations of older people,
particularly in Barbados and Jamaica.
Subregional
Headquarters
for theSubregional
Caribbean Headquarters
15th Monitoring
13 April
2015
for theCommittee
Caribbean
<AGENDA NUMBER AND TITLE>
12
Future Priorities for Action
• Legislation to protect the human rights of
older people including protection from
discrimination, abuse, and violence
• Strengthening social security protection for
older people including improved pensions and
assistance
• Improved care services: home care services;
home nursing; and day care centres.
Subregional
Headquarters
for theSubregional
Caribbean Headquarters
15th Monitoring
13 April
2015
for theCommittee
Caribbean
<AGENDA NUMBER AND TITLE>
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Future Priorities for Action
• Providing older people with choices about
their living arrangements: support to continue
living in their own homes; assisted living
facilities; and long-stay institutions.
• Providing equitable access to health services
for an ageing population including for older
persons with disabilities; people living with
HIV; and people in need of palliative care.
Subregional
Headquarters
for theSubregional
Caribbean Headquarters
15th Monitoring
13 April
2015
for theCommittee
Caribbean
<AGENDA NUMBER AND TITLE>
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Future Priorities for Action
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Priorities for future action for some countries
also included:
access to decent work;
accessibility of public space;
transport for older persons;
housing;
provision of continuing education.
Subregional
Headquarters
for theSubregional
Caribbean Headquarters
15th Monitoring
13 April
2015
for theCommittee
Caribbean
<AGENDA NUMBER AND TITLE>
15
Examples of Best Practice
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The National Prescription Drug Plan, Bahamas
Community Nursing Project, Barbados
Senior Citizens Parliament, T. & T.
Yes We Care, Dominica
Older Citizens Monitoring Project, Jamaica
Community Technology Project, Barbados
Intergenerational Discussions, T. & T.
Subregional
Headquarters
for theSubregional
Caribbean Headquarters
15th Monitoring
13 April
2015
for theCommittee
Caribbean
<AGENDA NUMBER AND TITLE>
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