Long-term care insurance could be available to the Island’s seniors in a few years.

Age Concern’s new chairman, Paget Wharton, said the insurance would be invaluable due to high costs of care for seniors, and said no such insurance package existed right now.

Currently Bermuda has one of the fastest ageing populations in the world, according to a study done by Atlantic Philanthropies.

And the 2000 Census stated that 11 percent of Bermuda’s population is already aged 65 or over, while the Department of Statistics estimated that this figure will double to 22 percent by 2030. With 56 percent of households led by senior citizens classified as ‘poor’ or ‘near poor’ the cost of health care over a long period can prove insurmountable. An insurance policy geared towards seniors would help address the issue Mr. Wharton said at the charities Annual General Meeting.

Opposition spokeswoman for seniors, Louise Jackson, backed the idea yesterday and said: “I think it’s an excellent idea. There are hundreds of people struggling now to take care of elderly parents, relatives and friends. Paying for long-term care can cost $40 an hour for round the clock care, that is thousands of dollars a month. For most people that is just beyond their means and many people have not and will not be able to save that type of money.

“With people living longer the issue is going to get bigger.

“The insurance would also benefit the Island socially as not caring for seniors is causing a strain on many. Because the cost of care is so much often someone in the family, usually the woman, is forced to quit their job to care for their elderly relative.

“There are no resources for these home car givers and that causes stress and sometimes elder abuse. Families have broken up over the stress of caring for their elderly relatives.

“I really hope that this does happen and will help Age Concern in anyway I can.”

Age Concern also aims to identify what services senior require, match them with available resources and assist in developing additional services where needed. A study completed by Total Marketing and Communications found that only 34 percent of businesses tailored their services to seniors.

The charity hopes to rectify that figure and will conduct an in-depth survey with the Government’s Statistics Department in September in order to better understand what seniors’ needs are. Executive director Claudette Fleming said: “Age Concern envisages a day when Government, charities and the business sector provide seamless offering of high quality services to all persons in Bermuda, throughout their ageing years.”

The new Board of Directors was announced on Thursday and includes Vincent Ingham, Walter Lister, Bob Richards, Ottiwell Simmons, Clevelyn Crichlow, Nicholas Dill, Estlyn Harvey, Patrice Horner, Jacqueline Horsfield, Kathy Lewis, Jacqueline Lightbourne and Cindy Swan. For more information on the charity visit www.ageconcern.bm.