Twenty-nine years ago Jennifer Gibson arrived to work as a nurse. She retires Friday as Director of Nursing at Westmeath. She talks with Lifestyle's Nancy Acton about her career.

When the former Jennifer Turner arrived here in 1974 she intended to stay just two years. Following her graduation as a nurse in Bath, England, she had worked first in Australia, Washington, DC and then in St. Croix in the US Virgin Islands.

Bermuda was to be the third stop on a personal odyssey which would combine working and gaining experience with seeing the world.

That, of course, was before Bermuda worked its legendary charms on the young nurse who not only fell in love with the Island and its people, but also met her future husband, Ralph Gibson.

During her ten-year career at the hospital Mrs. Gibson rose to become Assistant Head Nurse, but back surgery in 1982 left her deeply concerned about lifting patients, so when she saw an advertisement for an assistant matron at Westmeath in 1984 she thought it wise to apply, and to her delight was duly accepted.

"Although I thoroughly enjoyed my work at the hospital, I did feel there was something missing," she says today. "When I came to Westmeath I felt so comfortable that I knew this was what I wanted to do. I love the elderly to death, and the residents have a lot of love for the staff too."

Three years into the job Mrs. Gibson was promoted to Matron - a position that combined both nursing and administration duties.

At the time she joined the Pitts Bay Road home, there were just 16 seniors in residence, all of whom were fully independent in terms of daily living. Anyone subsequently requiring assisted living or nursing care had to leave.

Today, things are very different. Over the years, phased expansion projects have seen the facility and its population grow tremendously.

Now it is possible for residents to be accommodated at various stages of the ageing process - from independent to totally dependent. The former live in the ground floor wing, while semi-independent and totally dependent residents are housed in the newer, two-storey wings behind the original building.

"In all there are 63 people here, and until fairly recently my work included being in charge of nursing and administration," the Director of Nursing says. "It was a big job and still is."

In fact, her workload left her little time for a personal life. Living in a cottage on the grounds also meant that she was on call at night. Even with the separation of nursing and administration, her present duties are such that she never knows when her working day will end because when a situation arises she sees it through.

Fortunately, however, she is blessed with an understanding and supportive husband who has always been willingly to pitch in and help his wife where needed.

"Ralph has been a pillar of strength to me. I know that has not been recognised, but I appreciate all that he has done to help me," she says. "The poor man never knew when I was coming home to dinner because I am the type of person who has to complete things. I'm not one to leave at 5 p.m.

"During Hurricane Felix, when the night staff couldn't get in and we just had the residential wing, we gathered all the residents in one area on loungers, and sat with them all night. We talked, listened to the radio, played music, and made them cups of tea. They said it was like a slumber party," Mrs. Gibson recalls.

"It is very important to make sure the elderly don't feel nervous or frightened. They said we had made them feel so comfortable. We have had so many good experiences here, including milestone birthdays. One patient was 107, and we now have one who is 102."

As Director of Nursing, Mrs. Gibson's duties have included overseeing all wings of `Westmeath', as well as liaising with residents' families and such outside resources as pharmacists, doctors, dentists, and physiotherapists.

"Each wing has a nurse in charge, who in turn has nurses' aides," she says. "On the nursing wing they have their work cut out for them feeding, bathing, dressing and toileting the patients. Looking after elderly, total nursing care patients is no easy task."

In fact, Mrs. Gibson has nothing but praise for all of the `Westmeath' staff.

"I certainly appreciate them," she says. "We have a good staff and that is what is important. You have to be very dedicated for a job like this, and we all are. Some staff have been here for over 20 years."

Certainly, the Director of Nursing has no regrets about her decision to work with the elderly.

"I have thoroughly enjoyed my time here," she says. "I have seen many changes and challenges, which I have just taken in my stride. No two days are the same, and it is literally non-stop.

"You just don't know what you are going to encounter each day, which is what I like. I couldn't sit behind a desk and do a mundane job. The patients and residents are delightful, and you can always get a laugh out of what they say. My goodness we've had some characters in here over the years."

She also pays tribute to Mrs. Florence DeCouto, formerly the assistant matron and now the Residential Co-ordinator who, after 16 years, is also retiring on Friday.

"She has been my right hand throughout my years here and a great colleague," she says.

Cognisant that leaving their homes to come into a facility like `Westmeath' is a big adjustment for those who are up in years, and particularly those who are independent residents, Mrs. Gibson says the objective has always been to make their new surroundings as homelike as possible.

Therefore, each independent resident has his or her own bedroom, which they are encouraged to furnish with some familiar items from their former home.

"Most of them settle down well," she says. "Some even have their own cars, and are Pink Ladies or volunteers. We even had one lady who rode her bike until she was about 80."

She notes that `Westmeath' has an excellent activities programme coordinated by Mrs. Elizabeth Wingate which runs the gamut from regular exercises and swimming to picnics, dress rehearsals of theatre productions, picnics and more.

Intermittent use of the Project Ride bus means wheelchair patients in the nursing wing can also get out and enjoy special treats too.

The Nursing Director is also appreciative of how children of all ages have come to the home regularly to interact with the residents. Some do it as part of their Duke of Edinburgh award programmes, while others simply see it as a form of community service.

"Most of the schools have been involved, and the elderly just love them," she says. "Some children come at weekends to feed the patients, others come and play instruments to them, and still others help wherever they can. They really are wonderful."

Corporate staff also volunteer for "community day" projects, so Mrs. Gibson keeps a list of things to be done.

"They are amazing, really good, and a great help," she says.

In fact, Mrs. Gibson would like to see this concept taken further with companies "adopting" some part of `Westmeath' or its gardens and improving them.

Since Mrs. Gibson has always viewed `Westmeath' as "one big family", and striven to foster the same feeling among residents and staff alike, it is not surprising that she has been described as "the glue" of the facility. When someone dies, she also attends their funeral.

While there is no doubt that she will miss her job, years of working with the elderly have left the Director of Nursing with deep concerns about the future of Bermuda's ageing population.

Since they are living longer, healthier lives, such issues as rest homes and low-cost housing for the elderly, eldercare and health insurance must be urgently addressed if Bermuda is to meet their needs.

"I really feel it is getting to a crisis point," she says. "Where are these people going to live? Somebody has to do something. Already it is so difficult to transfer people to another facility because there are not enough. There are no individual, assisted-living places out there.

"If it had not been for Mr. Roderick Ferguson and the building of Purvis Park and Elizabeth Hills, etcetera, where would we be? In fact, if it was not for Mr. Ferguson, we would not be sitting here today. He and Mrs. Ferguson have done so much for `Westmeath'."

Acknowledging that the shortage of accommodation is "a big problem", Mrs. Gibson says she has always felt there should be a Government nursing home in the Pembroke area because it is one of the Island's most densely populated parishes.

Noting that there are waiting lists to get into `Westmeath', she notes that people who are not yet in need of the facility have long ago put their names down, and she advocates others doing the same.

In terms of health insurance and pensions, Mrs. Gibson expresses admiration for Mrs. Claudette Fleming, executive director of Age Concern, whom she says is doing "wonderful work" in pushing for good health insurance as well as better pensions.

"When you are 65 you really should not have your insurance cut off. That is the time of life when you are going to need coverage," the nurse says. "And how can an elderly person live in a rented apartment and be expected to survive on the present pension? They can't. I have known people who chose not to eat because they had to have medication - and that's another thing.

"I am sure there must be a way of reducing the cost of medicines, and visits to doctors, dentists and chiropodists. I feel they should have special rates for the elderly."

Meanwhile, Mrs. Gibson stresses schools must teach young people not only to take care of their health now, including eating sensibly and exercising in order to prevent problems later in life, but also to put money aside for their old age instead of squandering everything on money, clothes and cars.

"Healthy living and eating is so important. Government is not going to be able to take care of everybody because there are going to be too many old people," she warns. Certainly, she plans to practice what she preaches after she retires. "I am going to work on my fitness level because I have not had a lot of time to keep it up."

A keen, prize-winning photographer, Mrs. Gibson also plans to pursue her hobby more actively. She wants to do more gardening; hopes to read to primary school students; and indulge her love of baking to make goodies to share with her beloved seniors at tea time. When she leaves her adopted family on Friday, the woman who originally came to Bermuda for two years will take with her a host of happy memories, not only of the seniors, but also of the staff, the former Ladies' Committee, and many faithful volunteers all of whose services have been so invaluable.

In addition, she will remember the many farewell parties given in her honour and the beautiful gifts she has received.

"To feel appreciated was so important for me, and I cannot thank everyone enough for their kindness. I will miss them all," she says.