Minister: ‘Seniors Are An Invaluable Resource’

“Accusations by the Opposition that this Government has somehow ‘abandoned’ its seniors couldn’t be further from the truth,” Minister of Health, Seniors and Environment Jeanne Atherden said.

Minister Atherden said, “We believe that seniors are an invaluable resource to Bermuda and, as such, should be treated with dignity, respect and, above all, fairness.

It was along this last principle that this Government, in 2013, eliminated what we believed was an unfair two-tiered system for FutureCare, whereby policy holders were paying different prices for the same benefits depending solely on when they joined the programme. Consequently, we combined the FutureCare Phase 1 premium with the Phase 2 and 3 premium to create a single blended FutureCare premium rate.

“Additionally, as of this year, we moved to ensure that generic drugs are covered at 100 per cent cost for FutureCare policy holders and brand-name drugs are covered at 80 per cent.

“A means testing system remains in place so that any senior who finds they can’t afford the premium for FutureCare can apply to Financial Assistance. If that senior qualifies, they will receive FutureCare as part of their Financial Assistance benefit.

“This Ministry endeavors to not only ensure that seniors are taken care of when they are unwell but also that they are provided with information which may prevent them from getting sick in the first place. This is done through various means of health promotion and wellness programs.

“For example, the Department of Health offers senior-specific Health & Wellness Clinics, which provide seniors with services that promote healthy behaviours and lifestyles that help to maintain and to improve health, quality of life and independence.

“They provide blood pressure screening and monitoring, blood sugar screening, nutrition assessment and counselling, home safety and functional assessments of activities for daily living, adult immunizations, and prevention guidance in the areas of aging, safety, medication, falls and chronic illnesses.

“We, at the Ministry, are proud of the fact that, for the first time in many years, we have reduced the Standard Premium Rate. Simply put, Government has reduced the costs which are in its control to adjust.

“The cost of healthcare has actually flattened out and we are working on ways of bringing this down also. A reduction is a reduction for everyone – especially our seniors who utilize a significant portion of our healthcare costs.

“In the first five months of the fiscal year we have spent more than $20 million on hospital claims for seniors. That is more than $20 million that seniors didn’t have to pay and that insurers didn’t have to pay either.

“As far as our island’s rest homes are concerned, the Ministry continues to actively monitor and ensure that rest homes meet the required standards.

“The Ministry of Health, Seniors and Environment’s objective is for seniors to remain active and in their own homes for as long as possible. When this is no longer possible, the National Office for Seniors and the Physically Challenged [NOSPC]  works with families, medical professionals, social workers, the Community Assessment and Referral Team [CART], the Bermuda Hospitals Board, and other agencies and individuals to assist with the placement of seniors.

“Placement involves assessing the needs of the senior, determining if home modifications can be done, or if in-home services can be provided to keep the senior at home. If this is not possible, every attempt is made to place the senior at the residential care facility which best matches their needs and budget.

“We continue to work with the private sector on the establishment of new rest homes in order to increase capacity and meet demand. For example, we provide private developers with advice regarding the legal requirements for establishing and managing rest homes.

“We continue to operate two nursing homes which offer excellent care at highly subsidized rates,” the Minister continued.

“We have recently been in touch with various Alzheimer interest groups and are aware of the growing numbers of persons who are being afflicted by Alzheimer’s and dementia.

“We are currently conducting a review of the National Office for Seniors and the Physically Challenged to document their mandate and to set out their roles and responsibilities. We have asked stakeholders to provide input into this review, and we look forward to their feedback.

“When it comes to seniors, this Government believes that becoming a senior is just a part of life’s continuum and has its appropriate role in the system. We believe that ageing is a process – not something that happens to us when we turn 65.

“This Government’s vision is to see a Bermuda where seniors are more widely recognized as valued members of our community. We believe we have a responsibility to ensure that seniors live in an environment where they can continue to contribute and that the systems that encourage that contribution are sustainable.

“Part of this, we believe, involves our country embracing the concept of “Active Ageing” which represents a paradigm shift from the view of ageing as a “dependent” stage of life.

“Active” refers to continuing participation in social, economic, cultural, spiritual, and civic affairs – not just the ability to be physically active or participate in the labour force.

“There are many things that a community can do to encourage active ageing….for example, we can: develop elder friendly communities and encourage intergenerational solidarity; provide seniors with choices regarding transport that recognizes their needs and abilities; and ensure that seniors have easy access to information about the range of services offered on the island.

“This is why the Ministry has embraced an Active Aging approach – it is beneficial to not only the mental and physical wellbeing of our seniors, but to our community as a whole.

“This Government is committed to assisting seniors with the cost of their healthcare. In fact, for this year, we have budgeted about $60 million to pay for hospital bills on behalf of seniors.

“I can also advise that we are now in the process of establishing a strategic roadmap to set out goals for our health system. The Bermuda Health Plan will set the direction for future reforms so that all stakeholders understand the broad goals and work towards them with united vigour. The Bermuda Health Plan will build upon the work of the previous National Health Plan (NHP), but will put its proposals in today’s context.

“The vision of my Ministry is also the vision I have for Bermuda’s health system. Simply: “healthy people in healthy communities”. And that vision will be pursued with three values at its core: equity, sustainability and quality.

“While previously considered notions of proportional contributions are simply not seen as viable in Bermuda’s context today, there does remain a strongly shared belief among all of us, that everyone should have equal access to basic healthcare. It is in this sense that the Bermuda Health Plan will pursue equity as a core value.

“Our population is ageing and some of the most vulnerable patients have care needs that far exceed the system’s current capacity. An important part of the Plan will be to find suitable ways to provide for patients in need of continuing care and alternative levels of care, including our seniors.

“Accusations by the Opposition that this Government has somehow “abandoned” its seniors couldn’t be further from the truth.”

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