by Khaila Gentle
BELIZE CITY, Thurs. Sept. 29, 2022
The Executive Director of HelpAge Belize, Ms. Ivorine Bulwer, told us on Thursday that Older Persons Week 2022 is being celebrated across the length and breadth of the country in a multitude of engaging ways. Those celebrations will culminate on Saturday, October 1, when nations across the globe will be observing International Day for Older Persons—a day dedicated to celebrating the lives of senior citizens and challenging the negative stereotypes that exist around ageing.
This year specifically, the focus of Older Persons Week is on resilience, especially that of older women, in a changing world. Here at home, it is being observed under the theme “The Resilience and Contributions of Older Women”, and, according to Ms. Bulwer, the contributions of older women to the development of this nation have been plenty.
“Our women have always been behind our political leaders,” she said.
She then went on to highlight the fact that our women have been pioneers and forces of change in a number of areas, including social services, health, and education. We were reminded of women like Sybil Reyes, Hazel Hutchinson, and Bernice York—all outstanding educators who showed a great deal of care and concern for the older population.
Ms. Bulwer also brought attention to the many former nurses, such as Audrey Courtenay, who played a pivotal role in advancing healthcare in Belize. Those exemplary nurse leaders, as Bulwer called them, helped to nurture and train upcoming nurses at home and abroad, going so far as to assist them in securing scholarships. As a result, Belize saw great progress in critical care nursing, public care nursing, anesthetics, and more.
But while this year’s theme focuses on older women, Ms. Bulwer told Amandala that the men have not been forgotten.
“We are also inclusive of our older men,” she said, as she spoke fondly of legendary male educators such as the recently departed Owen Morrison. Morrison was the former principal of the Belize Technical College, and a man who left a lasting impression on hundreds of lives.
“These persons have passed on, but we have had great educators across the length and breadth of the country,” she added.
In addition to recognizing the contributions of older persons to society, Older Persons Week 2022 has also included nationwide activities and celebrations. Those activities include picnics, tea parties, and games like Bingo and Chalupa. There was even a small party held at Kiki Witz Resort in Belmopan.
“They were eating in style, they had access to the pool. They were dancing … Quite a number were going down to the ground and coming up back,” Bulwer said.
On Wednesday, Belize City Mayor Bernard Wagner was the keynote speaker at an event held at the HelpAge Belize City location on Wilson Street. There, he spoke with guests about the role that women like Jane Usher and Gwen Lizarraga have played in the development of Belize over time.
HelpAge Belize has been providing services to older persons across the country since 1984, when it was first established as an NGO. Today, there are a total of eleven HelpAge sites across the country, including the Sister Cecilia Home for the Elderly in Belize City and the Octavia Waight Center in San Ignacio. According to the Executive Director, the NGO’s mantra is “aging with dignity.”
Their services include looking after the basic fundamental needs of elderly persons, including their health and social needs, in addition to providing support in the event of disaster. But while Belize has a population of approximately 37,000 elderly persons, HelpAge currently only serves a total of 1,200, which is why the organization is committed to working with the community and other organizations, such as the National Council on Ageing, to do what it can to reach the wider elderly population.
“We cannot do this alone,” noted Ms. Bulwer.