Westmeath, the island’s largest care home for seniors, has moved to counter perceptions of the facility as overly priced.

Rising costs recently left the charity with no choice but to increase its rates by 1.5 per cent — but Barbara Lee, chairman of Westmeath’s board, said their accommodation still costs less per person than at the island’s two other homes capable of taking residents with Alzheimer’s and dementia.

“That hurt us,” said Ms Lee of the price hike.

“But what people don’t understand when they look at Lefroy House and Sylvia Richardson is that those homes are fully subsidised, with a budget higher than ours and not nearly as many people.”

As Bermuda’s cost of business rises along with its elderly population, Ms Lee said Westmeath was challenged to “stretch dollars”.

“We would love to have the community and the Government help us more.”

According to Chrissie Kempe, Westmeath’s administrator, the monthly charge at the facility on Pitts Bay Road in Pembroke starts at $4,500.

“But many homes have a one-sticker price, while we look at each person in terms of their care needs,” she said.

“We believe an individual should only pay for the services they receive.”

Challenges include union requirements for its staff of up to 80 people, and the expense of upkeep for the main house, which is a listed building. The board of trustees are unpaid, which can make it difficult to attract members.

Westmeath has no bus, and volunteers are particularly needed for transport.

Described by Ms Lee as “a mini-hospital”, Westmeath can house 64 residents. The average age is 89, and the oldest client is 103.

The home is saddled with “the myth that this is a rich place”, Ms Kempe said — but “the reality is that good care costs”.

“Few people know that we are a registered charity. We have no grants from the Government, and the charitable dollar is getting smaller and fought over more and more.

“We have a waiting list that stretches down the road, but we try to serve as many as possible.”

Dementia’s effects vary greatly from person to person, and the facility tailors its services to individual cases, down to room furnishing and the colours of walls.

“Society dwells on the horror stories, but it’s possible to live well with dementia,” Ms Kempe said.

Westmeath promotes a campaign, Be Dementia Friendly, to foster awareness and a friendlier environment for those living with the disease, which can affect thinking and communication.

Some have impaired speaking, for example, but are able to sing.

However, their growing numbers, when care facilities are already at capacity, is a topic of increasing concern.

Sharon Swan, Westmeath’s director of nursing, described the Dutch elderly care “village” of Hogeway as a model — a customised environment specifically for people with dementia.

“I visited several months ago to look at their care concept,” she said.

“They have people in groups of six to seven, which they have found to be the right size.”

In accommodating the aged, she said that size was key: “I am not in favour, at all, of having one really big facility.”

Westmeath has pursued ambitious fundraising campaigns in the past, including for expansions, as needs have grown.

Asked if the home could add on a new facility, Ms Lee said: “We have the land, but we don’t have the money.

“For us, the most important thing is staff.

“It’s true that our rate is higher, but we need people to understand why.

“If we could get more funding from the community or support from the Government, maybe we wouldn’t be so high.”

• To learn more about Westmeath, donate or get involved as a volunteer, see www.westmeath.bm