Oran Hall | Financial support for senior citizens

The Ministry of Labour and Social Security provides significant support to senior citizens through the National Council for Senior Citizens and the National Insurance Scheme, a compulsory contributory, funded social security scheme covering all employed people in Jamaica.

Additionally, our senior citizens get support from organisations such as the Caribbean Community of Retired Persons Jamaica or CCRP, churches and some employers.

According to the Planning Institute of Jamaica, people 60 years old and over and 65 years old and over accounted for 13.70% and 9.60%, respectively, of the population in 2019. People living longer and fewer babies being born are factors contributing to the proportion of senior citizens to the general population increasing. Beyond that, as people have fewer children, the potential for assistance in their later years is reduced.

Living longer also means that senior citizens have more years during which they are inactive and disengaged, risk contracting diseases as they get older, and risk being sick for a longer time. Some have very little to support themselves during this period of their lives and others watch in anxiety as inflation eats away at the purchasing power of the funds they had set aside to sustain them during the twilight years of their lives.

Although some senior citizens are members of various church communities and citizens groups, many risk being marginalised and being exposed to loneliness. The National Council for Senior Citizens – established in 1976 by the Government of Jamaica – has instituted programmes to meet the physical, spiritual and socio-economic needs of senior citizens at the different stages of the ageing process so that they can continue to be vital and useful members of the society.

HELPING CITIZENS

Although it has a national committee, it also has parish committees to monitor its programmes at the local level and to motivate senior citizens to participate in its programmes. The programmes go beyond helping citizens to keep fit, engaged, fed, cared for and entertained. Citizens are taught skills to help them make an income.

The Government provides the following for these citizens who are in the final stage of the life cycle: a senior citizens’ bus pass ID service, handicraft instructors, home help/nurse’s aide service, senior day activity centres, and a feeding programme and laundry service in the Corporate Area.

The National Council for Senior Citizens provides training in handicraft skills and encourages senior citizens to make and sell items. Several income-generating projects are registered with the senior citizens clubs across the island, with emphasis on poultry and animal rearing, handicraft, culinary art, horticulture, agriculture and trading in dry goods.

The council also runs computer classes for seniors, but at the secretariat in the Corporate Area. Other activities include cultural days to showcase the talents of seniors, Senior Citizens’ Week to raise awareness of the contribution of senior citizens to national development, sports at the local and national level, an annual poster and essay competition, a debating competition, a spelling bee competition and domino tournaments.

The Home Help Service is operated by nurse aides and volunteers, who visit senior citizens to assist with their health, domestic and personal needs. Additionally, seminars, health talks, workshops and health screenings are used to help senior citizens enjoy an enhanced quality of life.

Senior citizens clubs are organised in all parishes to provide a wide range of activities for citizens 60 and older who live in a particular geographical area and are led by the people they choose. Senior citizens are encouraged to join a senior citizens club or form one in their community.

People who have contributed to the NIS are eligible for certain benefits. Those that are paid for life are generally referred to as pensioners and include the following: retirement/old age benefit, widow/widower’s benefit, invalidity benefit, disability benefit and special anniversary benefit.

The CCRP – a non-profit, non-denominational, non-political membership organisation – is another organisation that exists for the benefit of senior citizens. Membership is open to citizens who are 50 and over. It is closely aligned with the National Council for Senior Citizens.

Members are entitled to numerous benefits including the following:

• discounts and special offers from over 70 discount partners;

• excursions and ‘wellness & lifestyle’ social events with presentations on topics such as wellness, retirement planning, learning and leisure, personal safety;

• professional networking to provide opportunities;

• rates for motor vehicle and property insurance with the group’s insurance partner; and

• eligibility for enrolment in CCRP group health insurance plans.

So there are provisions to improve the quality of life of our senior citizens. Perhaps the reach of some need to be extended.

Families still need to do what they can to help care for the senior members of their families, and individuals, as much as they are able to, need to provide for the various aspects of their twilight years – which do not have to be dim.

Oran A. Hall, author of Understanding Investments and principal author of The Handbook of Personal Financial Planning, offers personal financial planning advice and counsel. finviser.jm@gmail.com