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nca-title-care
nca_caregiving3There is a misconception in Belize that all older people are frail and need care. Although there are certainly many abandoned older people that do need care and attention there are far many older people that relish their independence and would prefer to live comfortably in their own homes and avail themselves of the services available in their communities to enjoy their later years in peace and dignity. Unfortunately the services available to older people countrywide are woefully inadequate and those that exist are under financed and under staffed.

In an attempt to address this issue, the NCA teamed up with FAVACA (Florida Association of Volunteer Action in the Caribbean & Americas) and Florida International University (FIU) in November 2006 to provide training in home health care to family members, volunteers and support workers concerned with care in the community and who would then pass on their knowledge as trainers to others.

This Training of Trainers workshops covered areas such as:

  • Healthy Eating and Nutrition
  • Exercise
  • Hygiene
  • Care giving
  • First Aid
  • Positive Ageing
  • Truths and Myths about Ageing
  • Spiritual Health

 

Caregiver Resource Manuals

Alzheimer’s Caregiving support group handbook 
Helping Caregivers Training manual 
Let’s talk about falls Prevention Manual 

 Click to visit the Alzheimer association  and My Cielo Blue 

Ongoing Training

In 2013 the NCA’s Programme Officer, Ms. Ix-Chel Poot completed a ten month Specialization Course in the Management of Health Services of Older Persons. Her thesis for the courses was based on providing adequate training for caregivers of vulnerable older adults; as a result Ms. Poot has been providing caregiver training to various organizations. In addition to these training sessions the NCA also provides various workshops and educational talks on ageing and ageing issues. For more information on training opportunities contact the NCA.

CARE GIVING RESOURCES IN BELIZE

  • Mercy Care Centre

    Mercy Lane
    Belize City
    Contact Mr. Andre O'Brien - Tel: 223-0344

    Mercy Care Centre provides holistic care to poor older people in Belize City each day of the week. The Centre has a medical facility with a doctor, practice nurse and pharmacy to distribute medication free of cost. A home care facility is also provided to older people confined to their homes by a visiting nurse. The Centre provides a daily meals service, breakfast and lunch, to older people that drop in and also a meals service to those at home and too sick to visit.

    In 2010 the Mercy Clinic became a National Health Insurance (NHI) Provider. The clinic now has two full time doctors and nurses. The clinic has expanded both it’s in clinic services and its home visit services.

    Social activities are available in a lounge area and an on site church provides spiritual comfort. The Centre is also equipped to provide health education and healthy eating instruction.
  • HelpAge Belize

    Wilson Street
    Belize City
    Contact: Mrs. Ivorine Bulwer – Tel: 224-5282

    HelpAge has branches in each of the Districts
    • Corozal in Corozal District: Telephone: 422-0363
    • Orange Walk in Orange Walk District: Telephone: 322-2125
    • Belmopan: Cayo District Telephone: 822-2213
    • Benque Viejo del Carmen: Cayo District Telephone: 823-3053
    • Dangiga in Stann Creek District: Telephone: 522-3070
    • Hopkins in Stann Creek District: Telephone: 523-7247
    • Punta Gorda in Toledo District Telephone:


    HelpAge Belize provides a service to older people in Belize City through a variety of activities that include homecare visiting to sick and infirm older persons to carry out limited medical care. It also provides social activities at its headquarters each afternoon and the distribution of meals each Thursday.

    The District Branches offer different services to older people ranging from a meals service to home visits, distribution of food packages, social companionship and craft production.
  • Salvation Army

    Regent Street
    Belize City
    Contact: Major Joliher Leandre – Tel: 227-3365

    The Raymond Parks Night Shelter offers accommodation and meals to men who do not have any other means of support. For many the Night Shelter has become a home and the service is available to long stay and transient men. Most of the men who avail themselves of this service are older persons.

    In 2010 Gann’s Rest House for Women was reopened in Belize City. The facility offers night accommodations for homeless women in Belize City.
  • HOPE Toledo

    c/o Red Cross Building
    Main Street
    Punta Gorda Town
    Contact: Shirely Mahung – Tel: 702-2150 or Sister Josefina – Tel: 722-2094

    HOPE (Helping Older Persons Equally) is the first National organization that provides a service specifically for older persons in the Toledo District (considered to be the poorest district in Belize).

    HOPE distributes meals to the poor older people in Punta Gorda Town and surrounding areas twice per week and utilizes the facilities of a bus to transport the older people to and from their homes for various activities, social functions and outings. The nuns from the nearby Pallotine Convent in Forest Home visit older people in some of the rural Mayan villages.

    For many years HOPE collaborated with the Belize Red Cross and used their building opposite the PG Hospital to hold small functions but the space was not large enough to host a large group of older persons. HOPE had ambitions to build its own building so after land was gifted to them by Celia Martinez and family. HOPE started the process to build and in April 2015 the new HOPE building was officially inaugurated. This building provides ample space for gatherings, a large kitchen, doctor’s room, laundry area and office.
  • Belize Red Cross Society

    BRCS provide a whole host of services to communities throughout Belize. They are mostly known for the humanitarian aid and relief service they provide during natural disasters. However, they are also currently working on an awareness of HIV/AIDS Programme with young persons. They consistently work in rural communities by providing training in emergency management, first aid and relief to the older persons.
  • Residential Care Homes

    Belize has 3 residential homes which are:
    • Golden Haven Rest Home situated in the village of Hattiville in the Belize District: Contact Alison Williams – Tel: 205-6079.
    • Sister Cecilia Home for the Elderly situated within the HelpAge Belize compound in Belize City. Contact Mrs. Malva Allen - Tel: 224-4017
    • Octavia Waight Centre situated in San Ignacio Town in the Cayo District. Contact: Mr. Luis Pulido – Tel: 824-2214
  • Day Care Services

    At the present time there is no day care provision for older persons in Belize but the NCA would like to see greater developments of these facilities countrywide, which would provide much needed social interaction with peers in a safe environment whilst providing greater support to families who still wish to have their elderly family members living at home.
  • WELCOME Resource Center

    Opened on Wednesday 21th November, 2012 the Mental Health Day Care/Resource Centre project, located at the corner of Tibruce and Vernon Streets, offers social support and training for income generation for the homeless and people living with mental health problems in Belize City.

    The facility is not be a residential centre but provides a daily meal, medical referrals and recreation for its beneficiaries. The facility also offers male and female bathrooms where clients can shower and get a clean change of clothes. The centre has the capacity to benefit 150 clients on a regular basis. The centre is operated by the Mental Health Association in collaboration with the Ministry of Health. For information on how you can become involved with the Welcome Center contact them at:

    Contact Person: Joyce Ellis
    Number: 202-2511
    Address: Cor. Tibruce/Vernon Street, Belize city
    Email: [email protected]
    Facebook: www.facebook.com/5012032511MHA
  • A.G.E. A. Ageing with Grace and Enthusiasm Association

    The A. G .E. A. is a community based volunteer group in Belmopan. Volunteers visit elderly persons living alone at least once a week to provide these older persons with social interaction and other in home support. Volunteers also host social gatherings and receive training on how to effectively work with older persons.

    Contact Person: Irene Tuyud Garcia
    Phone Number: 601-3257
    Email: [email protected]

More NCA Belize Resource

  • Resources
  • Active Ageing
  • Poverty
  • Care Giving
  • Education
  • Statistics & Research
  • Links on Ageing

FEATURED DOWNLOADS

  • Stay safe on your feet leaflet (English)
  • Mantengase a salvo en lost pies (Espanol)
  • Understanding Alzheimer’s Disease Brochure
  • Alzheimers Disease Leafelet
  • Warning Signs of Alzheimer’s Handout
  • Nighttime Behavior Problems
  • Stroke (English)
  • Stroke (Espanol)
  • Belize Feasibility Study
  • Situational Analysis of Older Persons in Belize 2010
  • National Council on Ageing Facts
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About Us

National Council on Ageing
Unit 17, Garden City Plaza
Mountain View Boulevard
P.O Box 372
Belmopan City

Tel: 501 822-1546
Fax: 501 822-3978

Email: [email protected]
[email protected]

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