The government is in the consultation phase on draft legislation to address the abandonment of elderly persons in healthcare facilities like the Princess Margaret Hospital.
Minister of Health and Wellness, the Hon. Dr. Michael Darville spoke with reporter on the new legislation this week. He said, “it speaks about elderly abandonment, it speaks about the care of the elderly and it speaks about improving the access of health care services for the elderly. I’m excited about this bill because for us who operate in the clinical space we’ve been noticing elderly being abandoned in the country and it is of great concern to this administration.”
Clyde Beckford Sr. of Paradise In Home Care shared his experience with elderly abandonment. “Some people, they don’t care. They drop their seniors in. We have one lady who’s…a daughter, she dropped her mother in here and she turned her back. She never came back.” According to Beckford it has been three years since the lady has been left at the facility and they have received no payments except for the first two months.”
During the 2026/2027 budget debate, Minister of State for Health and Wellness, the Hon. Owen Wells revealed the government’s plans to continue working on the draft legislation.
