GROUP 1Purpose:

To present a Health Situational Analysis of the Older Persons in Barbados

PERSPECTIVE OF AGEING IN THE CARIBBEAN

INTRODUCTION

THIS INCREASE IS DETERMINED BY A SERIES OF EVENTS, NAMELY:

(1) SIGNIFICANT DECLINE IN MORTALITY LEADING TO AN INCREASE IN POPULATION

(2) FERTILITY RATE DECLINE WHICH LEADS TO A DECREASE IN THE YOUNGER POPULATION AND A TREND TOWARDS AN INCREASED POPULATION OF OLDER AGE GROUPS AND

(3) INCREASED LIFE EXPECTANCY

DEMOGRAPHICS BARBADOS Total population 275000

Males 132 =48% Females 143 =52%

Age Index Pop> 15 yrs 20.6% Pop 60 yrs and over 16.5% Pop 80 yrs and over 3.6% Median Age 34.7% Total life Expectancy at birth 74.9 male/79 female Total Fertility rate 1.5 births per woman Infant mortality rate fluctuated between 13 -14

per 1,000 live births in the period 2002 to 2003.

SOCIOECONOMICSThe Barbados economy grew at an annual average rate of 3% from 1993 until 2000. Following a short-livedrecession in 2001, the growth trend resumed by mid-2002 and by 2006, it was estimated at about 3.7% perannum. In the period 1991 to 1994, per capita income fell below the 1990 level of US $5,750. However, withsustained economic growth post-1994, per capita income rose from US $6,000, to US $7,000, to US $9,050and US $10,0004 in 1995, 2000, 2005 and 2007, respectively. (US$1.00 = BD$2.00).

SOCIOECONOMICS Health Services GDP 5.1% - 5.6% Access health Care- Free at point of

Delivery funded through general taxationpersons 65 years and over; b) children

under 16 years of age; and c) persons who receive prescribed Formulary

Drugs for the treatment of hypertension, diabetes, cancer, asthma and/or epilepsy.

DISTRIBUTION OF HEALTH EXPENDITURE BY PROGRAM

RISK OF ILLNESS OF DEATH Major challenge morbidity and mortality

related to NCD e.g diabetes, hypertension cancer, obesity

ORGANIZATION OF HEALTH SERVICES Comprehensive health care is provided

through a network of primary, acute, secondary and tertiary care institutions that ensures appropriate care to every member of the family.

UTILIZATION OF THE PRIMARY HEALTH CARE SERVICES BY AGE GROUP

RECOMMENDATIONS Specific health Indicators related older

personsCollection of data in related to NCD and

age-related diseases e.g AlzheimersChallenge is inconsistencies data from

relevant sources

RECOMMENDATIONS CONTIN… Conduct surveys Research on social indicators affecting

the aged. Desegregate data of age 65 +and

sex( housing, education statistics etc)