national mACHINERIES for the implementation of the brasilia declaration

1. national mACHINERIES for the implementation of the brasilia declaration A AN OVERVIEW ON THE MAIN ADVANCES IN TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO REGARDING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE BRASILIA DECLARATION, AND IDENTIFYING KEY ACTIONS Jennifer Rouse (Ph.D.) Director, Division of Ageing Ministry of the People and Social Development Third Regional Intergovernmental Conference on Ageing in Latin America and the Caribbean Held in San Jose, Costa Rica 8 - 11 May, 2012

2. Research • Research Unit within the Division of Ageing: • Evaluates programmes of the Division • Maintains databases on newspaper articles & Centenarians • Examines socio-demographic trends • Supports researchers through its Reference Library & sample frames – survey of living conditions of seniors in T’go • Provides templates on needs assessments & proposal writing for NGOs, CBOs, FBOs in establishing Homes & care facilities for seniors

3. Research (cont’d) • In 2009, presentation at CARAIFA’s 21st Sales Congress in Tobago on “Tsunami – Demographic trends and their financial implications” • In 2010, research paper at WASD 8th Int’l Conference in St. Lucia on “The Dynamics & Consequences of Population Ageing in T&T: A call for responsible planning for sustainable development” was included in the curriculum for the CAPE students (equivalent to Freshman level) • In 2011, comprehensive paper submitted to the UN as the gov’t response to the “Realization of the Right to Health of Older Persons” • Midterm research project/paper of the Social Gerontology course at the University of the West Indies – the best are submitted to CHRC for prizes/publication • The annual Senior Citizens Parliament debates televised motions which are researched by the participants

4. Human Resource Training • The UWI Faculty of Medical Sciences introduced MSc programme in Palliative Care in collaboration with the Palliative Care Division of the University of Toronto • Retirement Planning Seminars are hosted by public/private sectors • Min. of Health est. Health Sector Human Resource Planning & Dev. Unit to develop 10-yr Manpower Plan, build sustained cadre of HR for Health, & recruit specialized foreign nurses/medical doctors • Min. of Comm. Dev. commissioned Graduate School of Business to design programme in leadership for community officers who engage in customer service roles with the elderly, youth & NGOs • TTRNA – careers in nursing and geriatric care services in schools • Sensitization seminars conducted by DOA for Social Welfare Mgrs & Supvrs to enhance customer service toward the elderly/indigent

5. Public Policies • National Policy on Persons with Disabilities – launched in 2006 to address disability/infirm elders from a human rights perspective • National Policy on Ageing – launched in 2007 with 12 priority areas of action to guide/frame Nat’l Plan of Action on Ageing • Draft National Gender Policy – being finalized re: role of women in care-giving & health economic issues of older women • National Policy on the Family – being formulated to address elderly in context of the family • Utilities Assistance Policy – launched in 2011 to provide reduced water/electricity rates for the poor, elderly and disabled

6. Legal Protection • Proclamation signed by POS City Mayor in observance of WEAAD • Significant number of women could be left out of pension schemes due to over-representation in the informal sector • Ageism and mandatory retirement age of 60-65 yrs fosters social exclusion – trade unions collaborating with DOA • Elderly not recognized as a group under the Constitution of T&T, but have the same protection as all other citizens • Age-friendly health centres established by Ministry of Health • Homes for Older Persons legislation to control, monitor & regulate Homes and care facilities for the aged awaits proclamation • Omnibus legislation required to protect elderly in the community

7. Key Actions (for next 5 yrs) • Explore intergenerational approaches such as volunteerism for school-aged children at Homes and care facilities for the elderly; & training in homecare services for the able-bodied “young-old” • Expansion of the Division of Ageing competencies & branding Unit • Use of novel/diverse cultural approaches such as folklore in public education campaign to promote positive imaging of ageing • Promote strengthening of family care to highlight the impact of changing family structures on the elderly • Accreditation and standardization of care-giving training courses at local/regional educational institutions • Institutional strengthening of agencies impacting the ageing population via training, legislative enforcement, and deployment of financial, human and material resources for discharge

8. Key Actions (cont’d) • Advocacy through community caravans & expert panel discussions to include older persons/ageing issues in parallel policy initiatives • Mandate small & medium-sized NGOs to participate in free courses in marketing, technical writing, computer literacy, accounts • Establishment of Policy Implementation Unit (combine the resources of research/project mgmt/M&E) in DOA to serve as a “think-tank” • More collaborative response to elder abuse cases reported via hotline between DOA & T&T Coalition against Domestic Violence • Revamping of the Senior Citizens Bureau to utilize skills/expertise of older persons via website/online database managed by NGO, to link seniors with local & CSME employment opportunities

9. Key Actions (cont’d) • Establishment of model Assisted Living Facility (returning migrants) to be built in north, south & central Trinidad between the years 2015 and 2017 • Establishment of Residential Long-term Care Facilities • Establish an Elderly and Disabled Mobile Transport (ELDAMO) • Establish Adult Day Care Services Programme to meet demand

10. Challenges • Other competing social issues on the national agenda such as crime, poverty, narco-trafficking & HIV/AIDS • Recruitment of staff difficult due to inadequate remuneration pkgs • Dearth of research institutions results in tardy & inaccurate data • CSO is beset with lack of funding, inadequate staffing/resources • Single source of demographic data is Population/Housing Census every 10 yrs, thus creating “structural lag” in ageing response • Resultant over-reliance on foreign data sources which approximate trends & lack cultural determinism • Insufficient networking between line Ministries – “silo syndrome” • The “graying” of the national budget to approx. 4% of GDP

11. Conclusion • Research/M&E must be the driver of programmes • NPAA to mainstream ageing across national policies • Advocacy with interest groups to ensure buy-in • Branding of the Division of Ageing • Older persons must be seen as a resource instead of a burden on state resources • Intergenerational approaches must be culture-sensitive to capture plurality of T&T

12. THANK YOU!