Cardin Home celebrates 81 years of housing the elderly

By Melissa Bryant
Reporter-SKNVibes.com

BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – ALTHOUGH October marks the annual celebration of Elderly Month in the Federation, the Cardin Home has been doing just that since its inception in May 1927 when James D. Cardin donated the land to the government of St. Kitts and Nevis.

There are currently 40 employees at Cardin Home consisting of nurses, orderlies and supervisors. They care for the home’s 73 residents - 42 men and 31 women.

The residents are given four meals per day while their quarters are cleaned daily. The home has two wards; one for each sex, and there is also a kitchen, laundry room, dining area and the grassy field which surrounds the building.

For recreation, residents watch television, read, listen to the radio and interact with each another. There are regular church services on Sundays with an occasional outing to the beach or park.

Ann Wigley, a Social Assistance Supervisor, is responsible for the screening process. She informed that before candidates could be accepted into the home, they first have to successfully satisfy the criteria which include age, financial resources, access to a home and family support. She however noted that in addition to the criteria, the final decision rests with the Home’s Supervisor, George Richards.

According to Richards, staff shortage is one of the major problems existing at the home. 

He pointed out that the home as a government entity, the staff could be removed to fill gaps in other public health organisations such as the island’s three hospitals. Similarly, the home could receive staff from these organisations, but Richards has no say in who is chosen to come or go.

He encouraged the community to fill this gap and to volunteer more frequently. “Even something as simple as taking them for a walk or combing their hair is sufficient. Our residents are craving interaction.”

Another problem noted was the perception that the Cardin Home is a dumping ground for people to place their relatives and then never communicate with them again. To combat this situation, Richards ensures that every potential resident actually wants to stay at the home and not being forced by their family to do so.

Wigley urged the families to be more responsible and to become more active in the caretaking of their elderly members, as “the government cannot do everything”.

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