Bermuda’s last census was conducted in 2016. At that time, the island’s total population was estimated at 63,917, of which 10,704 were individuals aged 65 and older. It is estimated that by 2026, seniors will make up a quarter of Bermuda’s population.

This is partly owing to our senior population living longer than before. However, the more meaningful question is not simply how long they live but whether those added years are lived in good health and with a strong quality of life.

In earlier generations, caring for our elders was considered a shared responsibility within the entire family. While some relatives naturally accepted more of the daily caregiving than others, there was a collective understanding that supporting ageing parents and grandparents was a duty rooted in love, respect and gratitude.

Even while balancing full-time work, raising children and managing busy households of their own, our parents and extended family members still found ways to look after the older generation.

Whether through regular visits, shared meals, helping with daily tasks or offering companionship, they ensured their elders were not left alone and remained an important part of family life.

Today, however, we increasingly hear people say: “I can’t take care of my mother or father because I have children to raise.” While balancing careers, financial pressures and parenting, which can make caring for ageing parents seem difficult or even impossible, this sentiment also reflects a shift in how caregiving responsibilities are viewed.

It also raises important questions about how society values and supports the generations who once devoted their time and energy to raising and caring for us.

If you have visited some of our care homes recently, you would likely notice that many of them are overcrowded and operating under significant strain.

Residents often have very limited personal space, and common areas intended for social interaction are frequently too small to accommodate everyone. In several facilities, the buildings themselves are ageing, with worn walls, dated rooms and infrastructure that clearly reflects years of heavy use and insufficient renewal.

Caregivers, though deeply committed to their work, are often exhausted and overworked; they struggle to meet the growing needs of the senior residents in their care with too few staff members on duty.

Because of chronic understaffing, they have little time to engage meaningfully with those in their care, and too often they must rush through essential activities of daily living to keep pace with the workload.

Equally troubling is the broader lack of concern, empathy and urgency within the community to address these conditions. The challenges facing our elder care system are widely known, yet meaningful action often moves slowly or is postponed altogether.

Our seniors, who spent their lives building families, communities and institutions, deserve far more attention, compassion and commitment than they are receiving. Without a stronger collective sense of responsibility and a greater willingness to prioritise their wellbeing, the strain on both residents and caregivers will only continue to grow.

You don’t have to be a senior to find yourself in a nursing home or long-term care facility. Illness, sudden injury, chronic medical conditions or unexpected disabilities can place individuals of almost any age in a situation where they require medical support and daily assistance.

For many families, these situations arrive without warning, leaving them to quickly navigate complex care systems while trying to ensure their loved one receives the support they need.

Long-term care is not just an issue affecting the elderly. It is a community responsibility that touches people of all ages and backgrounds.

Even more troubling are some of the more prevalent comments we sometimes hear from adult children about the very parents who once cared for and raised them:

“I don’t know how to bathe my mother or father.”

“They weren’t there for me.”

“I don’t have time for this.”

“When you get older, I’m going to put you in a nursing home.”

These remarks often reflect frustration, discomfort or emotional distance while revealing a deeper problem — an increasingly nonchalant attitude towards the responsibilities that come with caring for ageing family members. In many cases, adult children feel unprepared, overwhelmed or uncertain about how to manage the physical and emotional demands of elder care.

While these feelings are understandable, they should not lead to indifference or abandonment of responsibility. Our elders, regardless of past imperfections or family tensions, deserve dignity, compassion and thoughtful care.

At the same time, it is important to acknowledge that caregiving is not always easy. Many families lack the training, time, financial resources or emotional support needed to provide adequate care at home.

This reality underscores why properly staffed, well-equipped senior care facilities are not a luxury but an essential part of a healthy and compassionate society. When these facilities are thoughtfully designed and supported by the community, they can provide professional care, social engagement, medical support and a safe environment that families alone may not be able to provide.

Our community must begin to treat senior care as a shared responsibility and an urgent priority. Churches, service organisations, charitable foundations, healthcare providers and community groups can all play meaningful roles in supporting both seniors and their families. Volunteer programmes, respite care services, caregiver education and community partnerships can help families navigate the challenges of caring for ageing loved ones while ensuring seniors remain valued members of our society.

Planning for elder care must also become a long-term community priority. As our population ages, the need for modern, specialised facilities and trained caregivers will continue to increase. Addressing this need now — with foresight, compassion and collaboration — will ensure that future generations of seniors are not left to struggle in overcrowded or inadequate environments.

How we treat our elders speaks volumes about who we are as a community. If we approach this challenge with empathy, responsibility and a willingness to act, we can build a system of care that honours the generations who came before us while preparing responsibly for those who will follow.

Others say: “It’s the Government’s responsibility to look after my loved ones.”

While the Government certainly has a role to play in planning, regulating and supporting elder care services, it is discouraging that the level of foresight and decisive action needed to address this growing challenge has not been fully realised.

For years, demographic projections have clearly indicated that our senior population would rise significantly, yet meaningful steps to prepare for this shift have been slow or insufficient. There has been little visible progress in converting suitable existing government buildings into modern, purpose-built senior care facilities or in renovating and expanding existing homes to meet the increasing demand.

In addition, opportunities to plan, design and construct new facilities specifically to support the complex medical, social and emotional needs of our ageing population have not been pursued with the urgency required.

As a result, we don’t have sufficient purpose-built facilities designed specifically for our seniors. Waiting lists for admission grow longer, leaving families uncertain about how their loved ones will be cared for.

When private individuals or organisations seek to help meet demand by converting homes or buildings into care facilities, they’re often met with resistance from the surrounding community, with the familiar response: “Not in my backyard.”

But the question must be asked: if not in your backyard, then whose?

Where should these homes be built? Where would you want them if it were your mother, your father or even yourself one day? The truth is that we are now living the very crisis that was predicted years ago.

Many in the community have the resources, expertise and influence to meaningfully contribute towards developing specialised care homes that can serve both present and future needs.

Partnerships between government, private investors, charitable organisations and community leaders could have created sustainable solutions long ago.

With demand for senior care only continuing to grow, the time is now for those with the ability to help — both in the public and private sectors — to recognise this shared responsibility and work together to build the facilities and services our seniors deserve.

Our seniors carried heavy burdens so that we could enjoy the rights, freedoms and opportunities we often take for granted today. Many of them worked tirelessly, raised families, built communities and, in many cases, stood on the front lines in the fight for equality, justice and social progress.

The society we benefit from today did not simply appear — it was shaped by their sacrifice, resilience and commitment to building a better future for those who would come after them.

So, the question we must ask ourselves is simple but profound:

Don’t they deserve better?

The answer should be clear. Yes, they do. And honouring that answer requires more than words, sympathy or good intentions. It requires action — thoughtful, decisive and immediate action. We cannot continue to postpone difficult decisions or wait for “some day” to address the growing need for modern, specialised senior care facilities. The time to plan, invest, build and improve these services is now.

Ultimately, the way we care for our seniors reflects the true character of our society. If we take the necessary steps today — rather than delaying until the crisis deepens — we will not only honour those who came before us but also prepare responsibly for the day when we ourselves may need the same care and compassion.

• Valerie Arorash is a registered nurse and the former operator of a nursing home