BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – QUITE often we pay homage to those men and women who protect and serve, those who impart knowledge, those who provide administrative assistance and those older members of our society who would have assisted in laying foundations upon which the young dwells.
Commendable as this may be, there are countless others without whom society would cease to function as it does. Yet, their actions and their willingness to go above and beyond the call of duty are often unsung.
For the past 10 years Andria Caines has been employed by the Ministry of Social Development as a homecare officer; a job which, according to her, she thoroughly enjoys.
Her job might appear simple to some, and to others unimportant. However, there are many who depend upon her for the meeting of some of their daily needs.
Attached to the Central Basseterre District, Caines provides assistance to “older persons and shut-in persons…persons who are unable to help themselves”.
Her client-base numbers 30, and while she does not provide services to all on a daily basis, she has to attend to seven of them from Monday to Friday.
A typical day in Caines’ life commences at 5:30 a.m. when she rises from her slumber and prepares herself to hit the road by 6:20 a.m. She says this is important if she is to get to her first client on time.
“Daily, I deal with about seven clients. I give each of them a bath and I prepare breakfast and I also give insulin to those who need it. My responsibilities extend beyond that though. There are those times when I would have to go to the bank because the clients are unable to do so. I go the drug stores and I also take them to the doctor whenever necessary. And if there is an emergency…that has to be dealt with as well.”
Most of these responsibilities, she explained, must be completed by 10:30 or 11:00 a.m. in order to complete her daily tasks.
As for the other 23 of her customers, Caines told SKNVibes, “I would visit now and again because they are not bed-ridden and they are able to do things in their own home. So I would just visit, and if it gets to a point where they really really need me, they would call me.”
During the interview, Caines’ face was decorated with a particular glow; one which somehow corroborated the words she used in expressing her love for the elderly - a love which was engendered during her formative years.
“I have been taking care of the elderly since I was a little girl growing up in Central Basseterre. I was in the Girls Brigade and we went out on weekends and assisted the elderly. I loved it! And I have been working for government for almost 11 years.
“There was a couple of elderly women who came by our home to assist my mother with us. When she went out to work, she would see that we get lunch on time. If she washed and left clothes on the line, she would pick them up. So she assisted my mom with us. When she got on in her years, we looked after her.”
Her face was even more aglow with love when she spoke of her heart’s desire, which, of course, is an initiative that surrounds the elderly.
“I would like to open up a home. I would love to open a home. Because of elderly abuse in the Caribbean and around the world, many persons are home and they depend on the homecare officers to assist them. I want to open a home that would see the elderly taken care of. I am seeking and searching to see if I can get a house to rent…start small and rise.”
With the enormous responsibility with which she is tasked, Caines explained that it does not supersede her responsibilities as a mother and, as she explains, “When one of my children calls for me, I am there!
“I am home by 5:30 or 6:00 p.m. Sometimes I sit down and have a breather or I go straight to the stove and start by cooking. Sometimes if I have to wash, I get my machine going. If I have to iron, it is in preparation for the next day.
“My youngest son, while the pot and machine are going, I sit by the table and help with his homework. I make sure that I spend time with him. I have two boys and two girls. I use the weekends to catch up and spend time with them, but if the occasion or the situation arises where I have to take time out in the evening to talk to anyone of them, I get it done. Or if one has a problem and they want to talk to me, they have me. Mommy time comes first.”
Her contribution to the lives of and love for the elderly, Caines expressed, are seeds which she continues to sow in the ground of expectation. Her belief is that good always follows persons who do good. And as such, she expects that “when I get to that stage, I hope there would be someone who would give me the same service with the same care that I give to others. I think this daily, trust me”.
As passionate as she is about her job, Caines admits there are those days when she just does not feel up to the task, but she expressed her commitment to her clients is a driving force.
“I get through and I get by. You would get by with the job because I love it. Every day is not going to be the same, every day the clients’ state of mind would not be the same. I take the good, the bad and the ugly and I put them together and I go out and get the job done. Sometimes I wake up at mornings and I don’t feel like it, but when I think of my clients who need the services, I have to go. I tell people all the time if you don’t have the love in your heart for the elderly you are not going to get the job done.”
Countless complaints have been lodged within the corridors of society that the generation gap seems to be widening, with the younger generation caring less and less about the older generation and spending less time with them.
Caines indicated that this practice should cease and younger persons should capitalise on opportunities to connect with the matriarchs and patriarchs of society, thereby sowing seeds towards a bountiful harvest.
“It all starts with self. If you love yourself you would love for when you get older…someone would come and care for you. You have to start programming yourself now. In that you need to start putting it out for somebody else; love them and care for them and in return it will come back to you.”
To Caines and the other homecare providers scattered across the Federation, we tip our hats in salute to you for your unwavering dedication, not only to your jobs but to your passion in caring for the elderly.
