MARIGOT–The Elderly and Disabled Care Section of the Collectivité’s Department of Solidarity and Families has been reinforced by a multi-disciplinary medical and social mission from Guadeloupe, to carry out evaluations of the situations of the elderly and the disabled and their living conditions in the wake of Hurricane Irma.
The mission – comprising nurses, a doctor, social workers, a psychologist – are from the Conseil Départmental de la Guadeloupe. To date, over two weeks, the group has visited 86 elderly persons in their homes.
The initiative is part of a three-part convention signed between the Conseil Départmental de la Guadeloupe and the Collectivité of St. Martin to implement an action plan of medical and social support for victims after the passing of Irma.
“As we don’t have enough social workers here, this group of five professionals has been going house-to-house in all six districts to see the state of the elderly, checking on their health, their living conditions and establishing what their needs are,” explained Vice-President in charge of the Department of Solidarity and Families, Annick Pétrus. “The group stays one week and then is replaced by another group from Guadeloupe. The last group here now started November 13 and finishes on December 8, 2017.
“It’s an important action organized by the Collectivité and much appreciated by the elderly. Some of the elderly lost the roof or had other damage, but St. Martin people are proud and don’t complain so easily.”
The first two actions took place immediately after Irma. The Conseil Departmental took in charge evacuees from St. Martin, specifically pregnant women, minors, unaccompanied minors, isolated foreign minors, and young people with or without families.
“Some left on their own accord or were sent to Guadeloupe by Agence Regional de la Santé (ARS). They were looked after by the Conseil, taken to hospital or put up with families,” Pétrus added.
Director of Elderly and Disabled Care for the Collectivité, Evelyne Ratchel, noted the Collectivité pays for the lunches and rental cars for the group and the Conseil Departmental pays for the accommodation and other expenses.
Pétrus emphasized the Collectivité is continually working on projects to support the elderly, disabled and children, something the public is perhaps not fully aware of.
Source: The Daily Herald https://www.thedailyherald.sx/islands/71362-guadeloupe-social-workers-evaluate-needs-of-elderly
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