The Aerie Seniors' Program

The Seniors' Program was designed in response to a growing recognition of the gaps that exist in Bermuda in terms of meeting the needs of senior citizens and their caregivers. Taking a practical approach to supporting seniors and their caregivers, Aerie Seniors' Program is the first program in Bermuda to offer quality at-home care for seniors on a not-for profit basis. The aim of the Seniors' Program is to provide a range of services to support senior citizens and their caregivers directly. The services are designed to assist seniors to remain in their own homes, and crucially, to give respite and psychosocial support to their family caregivers.

The Program Objectives are to:

• Provide innovative, affordable, high-quality services to support senior citizens in their homes and in the community.
   
• Provide viable alternatives for family caregivers needing respite.
   
• Provide psychosocial support for family caregivers.
   
• Increase collaboration between organizations working with and for seniors.
   
• Assist in building the capacity of Bermudians to meet the needs of an ageing population.
   

  The Aerie Seniors' Program is registered with the National Office for Seniors and the Physically Challenged (NOSPC) at the Ministry of Community and Cultural Affairs and the Department of Health . A three-phased approach has been designed:

• Phase One will see competent, reliable home support assistants provide at-home companionship and assistance.
   
• Phase Two will see the expansion of activities to include enhanced level of care for seniors by qualified continuing care assistants
   
• Phase Three will see the continuation of the above activities in addition to the creation of a multi-generational day center.

Phase One: Aerie Seniors' Home Support Service

This service will focus strongly on providing support which relieves the primary caregivers. To this end, care will extend up to 9.00 pm and will include weekends and public holidays.

Additional services offered:

• Companion
   
• Errands
   
• Shopping
   
• Transportation
   
• Laundry
   
• Meal planning and preparation
   
• Light housekeeping
   
• Medicine reminders

Phase Two: Personal Care added to Seniors' Home Support Service

In addition to the services offered in Phase One, the Seniors' Home Support Service will be augmented with the addition of Personal Care provided by qualified Continuing Care Assistants (previously known as geriatric aides).

Specific services include personal care such as feeding, bathing and dressing

Phase Three: Aerie Seniors' Center

The Aerie Seniors' Centre will cater to up to 20 seniors who are independently mobile, may have decreased physical or mental abilities, require some supervision or assistance with activities of daily living and who live in their own homes but cannot remain at home alone during the day.

Seniors will be able to attend five days a week, Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Specific service offered will include:

• Personal care and assistance with activities of daily living
   
• Preparation of nutritious meals and snacks
   
• Educational opportunities for seniors and caregivers
   
• Improvement of cognitive function through user-friendly training in the Aerie Computer Lab
   
• Medication administration, professionally structured exercise and rest activities
   
• Therapeutic activities, such as gardening at waist level, bus trips, games
   
• Intergenerational activities with school children
   
• Social activities not available at home
   
• Transportation to and from Aerie Seniors' Center using specially equipped van when necessary
   

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Children singing for Senior	Head Teacher Preschoolers and Senior	Preschoolers interact with Senior 95 yrs old

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