Residents of the Palms Geriatric Home will no longer have to be referred to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation for medical attention as the home is now equipped with an Infirmary and an outpatient clinic.
The $18M facilities were commissioned today on the ground floor of the Home’s administrative office. The facilities cater for six persons at any given time and are equipped with a special room for persons with communicable diseases.
According to Director of Social Services, Whentworth Tanner, approximately 15 persons are sent to the Georgetown Public Hospital every month, but some of the cases can be treated at the home.
“Many times there are cases when persons come back from the hospital, they are not yet at a place where we feel comfortable taking them back to the general ward, so we can bring them here for observation and complete their recovery before we send them to the ward and they’re also cases that aren’t serious enough to send them to the Georgetown hospital so we can deal with it in-house so we are going to bring those people down here for observation and continued care,” Mr Tanner said.
At the home, some of the most common infections are lung related, the Social Services Director said. However, there are cases of diabetes and other Non-Communicable Diseases which comes with age.
Prior to the establishment of the facilities, there is an in-house doctor who visits the ward at least once per week.
The Infirmary and an outpatient clinic are outfitted with various equipment that caters to the needs of the elderly, including special bath rails, to ensure that the best possible care can be provided.
The Palms currently has 194 residents.
