Letter to the Editor
Behind the Hurting - at ThePines
Dear Sir,
Recent articles concerning the financialproblems of the NCVO Pines Retirement Home have failed to portraythe full situation. Only the sky has been painted in this picture-- the landscape and colours are missing.
Money is necessary, of course, and money will help, but as I seeit, there is not enough money in all of Cayman to relieve thecore problem. A church however fine its trappings or architectureis never more than the faith and sincerity of its congregation.The core problem is one of morale. Without it no human institutioncan thrive. It is not a new problem for The Pines nor for manyother environments in this world, but there are causes and thereare solutions and it would appear that the time has come.
The Pines is a showcase institution for the Caribbean. Many whohave worked with similar institutions have visited and left behindtheir praises. As usual none of this praise has ever filteredits way towards those who make it so.
Firstly, let us look at the task itself. Caring for the elderlyhas always been the poor cousin in the hierarchy of vocations.It is more fashionable and emotionally rewarding to care for infants,the physically and mentally disabled, and cancer patients.
Becoming old sometimes means cranky, complaining, juvenile behaviour.Life comes full circle.
There are those who have had a gratifying life and their ""waitingtime" is one of dignified and peaceful reflection. Wherelives have been troubled, hard and uncompromising, a terriblebitterness can take hold. For some elderly comes an additionalcurse of mental degeneration which can lead to physical outbursts,terror, and awful mental pain. All of this must be absorbed andmanaged by the nursing staff.
Society itself appears to have some diffidence about the elderly.Look at the charity boxes this Christmas - see how full are thechildren's boxes compared to those of the elderly.
There are no Caymanians working in this field and not just becauseof the derisory pay but perhaps because nursing the elderly involvesheaving lifting, blood, spit, false teeth and faeces.
At The Pines and elsewhere in this world it is Jamaican womenwho so often go into the caring and nursing fields. They seemto have an instinctive nurturing way about them and are rightlyconsidered some of the finest nurses in the world, and yet herein Cayman the personal cost to them is simply and outrageouslyunacceptable.
The tasks are hard enough surely without Colonial remnants oftyranny (Does that bell ring a little loud?). Currently staffare being treated like the lowliest of servants - surely thisis still an abomination in the sight of God? These women are colleaguesyet have never been regarded as such. In this age of managementand human resource training such an attitude is frankly disgusting.
Staff at The Pines pay a too heavy price for their pittance ofa job. Please imagine being separated from husband, parents, children,for a year at a time. Imagine a hard day at work and going hometo ill-affordable substandard accommodation. This job in Caymanthat they can "take or leave" (quote) offers nothingmuch but failed marriages, alienated children and a depressingfuture that is still in debt to the "Caymanian store".
Truly for Heaven's sake, what might YOU expect for 12 to 16 yearsof service? Some small acknowledgement perhaps? And after suchloyal service would you expect to pay for a slice of bread ora glass or juice during your 10-12 hour day? How much of your$4.00 an hour could YOU put away for food, shelter, educatingyour children, clothes, visits to family, or a comfortable retirement?Are these needs unreasonable?
Back to money it would seem! Well, the truth is that society paysaccording to what value it puts on the task, which is thereforethe value put on caring for the elderly people of Cayman.
One bright and determined member of staff "got out".( I hope that does sound a bit like imprisonment since prisonstoo are notorious for devaluing people and speaking to them rudelyand critically). This young woman now runs a very successful businessof her own. Another, after years of loyal service to The Pines,risked life-threatening debts to take up nursing training -- oneday soon she will become an S.R.N.....and later, without doubt,a nursing sister.
No amount of money will change this situation. Humane attitudesand the rudiments of wisdom cannot be paid for. The staff at ThePines need a pay structure that reflects their value to Cayman.They deserve training. Above all they deserve our thanks for pastservices and commitment and an encouraging and rewarding emotionalworking environment.
There is a new Board Chairman, Mr. Julian Reddyhough, and I hopewith all my heart that he minds, and that he minds enough. Itwill take courage. None of the staff will speak, of course - theyare afraid - imagine that!!
You might expect this letter to be unsigned - that quaint andinfamous "Name Withheld By Request" ... but my dearand much-loved Cayman, I do not have to fear withdrawal of a workpermit, instant deportation or defensive vilification. I do, ofcourse, risk losing friendships in Cayman - something I have valuedmost highly, but there are certain "stand up" timesin one's life .... for me this is one of them.
Paddy Gogay