With approximately 150,000 caregivers islandwide not on payroll, Minister of Health and Wellness, Dr Christopher Tufton, has proposed that a census be done, so that they can be better assisted by the Government.During his address at the Training of Trainers for Home Visits of Older Adults for Geriatric Health Workshop, held inside the Confucius Institute, University of the West Indies (UWI), Mona, on Tuesday, Tufton committed to helping caregivers who are very often underpaid, but who give “yeoman service” to the ageing population.“We really haven’t done a proper census, and it’s something I would like us to do. It would be good to have a database of these individuals, these volunteers, these people who may be working for a little bit of stipend or driven not by the money but by the passion, commitment and sense of community,” Tufton said.The Minister noted that these people often have a sense of compassion, care and community spirit to be their brother’s keeper, which adds to elderly persons’ quality of life, the longevity of life and the vision outlined in the Community Arranged Response Efforts (CARE) agenda.“Those unpaid caregivers are just that. Unpaid. And they’re driven because of a sense of community, a sense of compassion, whether because of blood relation or just willing to care and wanting to care. Unfortunately, in our society today, it is more a rarity than it is the norm, because of all the influences we’ve had to confront. Society has changed to care about themselves, first and foremost, and less about anybody else,” Tufton said.He noted that caregivers are sometimes informally employed and are oftentimes someone known to families of persons they are caring for. They are often a relative, family friend, church sister or brother, or a neighbour, so they are oftentimes underpaid.International estimates suggest that almost 75 per cent of long-term care is provided by family members and community caregivers.Tufton noted that for the unpaid 150,000 caregivers in Jamaica, they prepare meals; purchase food and medication; provide transportation to clinics; help with bathing, dressing, feeding, mobility; manage appointments, and offer emotional support and companionship.The Minister said he was pleased to be with some of them at the workshop to hear their concerns.“Today is a special day, very very special. It’s special because, for me, it is venturing in an area of community work, national service, personal family-related support that is ever present [and] happening since time immemorial, but really has not been recognised and given the value that it deserves. It is, in a sense, a critical part of the fabric of our society. It is what holds us together and the level of communities and families,” Tufton said.The Minister argued that if caregivers were not available, the society would be in chaos.In his charge to caregivers in the room and others islandwide, he said it was important for them to see this mission as a very important part of the stabilisation of communities and families.“See yourselves as agents of change. This training that you are embarking on, is a defining moment in our history. I really believe that. It is a defining moment. Potentially, it’s an opportunity to change the landscape of our society that is forgetting what compassion really means, and what being your brother’s keeper really means,” the Minister said.- JIS NewsFollow The Gleaner on X, formerly Twitter, and Instagram @JamaicaGleaner and on Facebook @GleanerJamaica. Send us a message on WhatsApp at 1-876-499-0169 or email us at onlinefeedback@gleanerjm.com or editors@gleanerjm.com.