Age Concern Bermuda Pre Budget Statement
In anticipation of tomorrow’s budget release Age Concern Bermuda said they are “very concerned about the effects of the upcoming budget on its constituency, seniors in Bermuda.”
According to veteran community activist, Mr. Charles Jeffers, Chairperson of Age Concern’s Advocacy Committee, “at a time when many seniors are suffering from the effects of the present state of the economy, there are added stresses because of Government’s announced commitments to make cuts in an effort to right the financial ship of Bermuda.”
Executive Director of Age Concern, Mrs. Claudette Fleming added, “There are a number of identified hot button issues coming from Age Concern members that are at the forefront of their minds regarding the budget. Affordability of healthcare for seniors, income and long-term care top the list.
In a recent membership survey, 60 percent of those surveyed felt that the cost of healthcare and the present benefits were not at an acceptable level. Many vulnerable seniors would be affected in a devastating way if there are cuts in the budget in those two areas.”
Mr. Jeffers expressed further concern that “the level of income for many seniors is such that financial assistance is required just to maintain a very basic lifestyle, i.e. food, shelter, prescription drugs and health insurance premiums. Any cuts in benefits would increase the vulnerability of those seniors at the bottom of the ladder.
“Government has already cut benefits with the closing of the Critical Care Unit of the hospital (77 beds) with no real alternative. There is no plan advanced by Government regarding Long-term Care.”
“As a result of the closure of CCU, the Age Concern representatives indicated that there are many families who are wondering what will happen to those who are unable to manage their older loved ones at home if Government cuts financial benefits back any farther?
When asked whether there were any other major concerns regarding the upcoming budget Mr. Jeffers indicated that “decreasing or eradicating existing car licensing exemptions, or any other exemptions could be the start of a “silver revolt”.
“The overall wish for the budget is that the budget does not adversely affect the most vulnerable of the older adult population” concluded Mrs. Fleming.
this sounds good. keep up the good work!
With all do respect to seniors, you’ve had your whole lives to prepare for retirement and the costs involved. We young people have to foot the bill here. We unemployed young people…. Yeah its going great. (I’m not unemployed but a lot are)
Betty , you are absolutely correct seniors did have their whole lives to prepare for retirement, However some body took it all away because some body moved the goal posts, unemployment! blame poor education,some young people play with a ball and cell phone in preference to the pen, the rising cost in health care, the greedy banks reducing interest rates,greedy monopolies raising prices, a drop in tourism,because Bermuda is over priced through over taxation, guest workers being given the boot, to put in all in a nut shell numerous financial blunders on capitol projects , eg. Atlantic condo disaster and gross mismanagement of the public purse. Seniors did not anticipate the enormity of the public debt, now we have to pay for that also.
JUNK YARD DOG don’t forget that the young take the hard earned money by living in with seniors, posing as caring persons, eat their food, use their money to buy their incidentals, get hair & nails done shall I go on?
Also the value of the dollar saved dropped, good investments were stolen.
We paid our debts. Xmas never saw us with a bill we ensured that our bills were clear for the outgoing year. We did not eat in restaurants, trips overseas were very limited – we compromised ourselves because we were saving for the future – now you little punks want to take our respect?