A caregiver taking one of the residents inside the ADH.

Photo Credit: BVI Platinum News

A caregiver taking one of the residents inside the ADH.

Photo Credit: BVI Platinum News

A report tabled in the House of Assembly has pointed out that the current facility that houses the Adina Donovan Home (ADH) for the Elderly on Main Street is not appropriate and residents and staff are placed in very life threatening situations.

In its 2011 report, the ADH, which falls under the Ministry of Health and Social Development, pointed out that the current building is a two storey structure with many challenges. Among the challenges pointed out is that bedridden patients' beds cannot be evacuated because the doorways are too narrow.

The ADH report noted that the ramp access is very difficult to get wheelchair bound patients up and down the pathway, the age of the building creates the need for constant repairs and the concrete steps are a potential hazard should a resident fall.

Additionally, the ADH report also pointed out that the current structure does not allow proper air circulation throughout the facility and the size of the kitchen is not adequate for proper air circulation and proper food storage.

"It is very difficult to push the residents up the steep incline and only the male workers are able to accomplish this task. The steps to the facility are concrete and most of our residents cannot use this passageway safely...The current structure of the facility does not allow for safe evacuation of all residents in case of an emergency. This problem has been identified and solutions suggested, but the structure of the building does not allow modification of the current doorways," the report pointed out.

According to the report, in addition to the space limitation, the environment of the facility lacks modern equipment resources necessary for residential care and the facility exhibits many hazardous elements which if not addressed in a timely manner can generate potential threats to the lives of both staff and residents.

"Residents and staff are placed in very life threatening situations which can result in possible physical injury or medical sickness. Major deteriorations to the facility are currently causing disruptions to the operational functions of the establishment".

The report stated that there is also need for a security guard to be recruited and assigned to the home, especially during the night.

Minister for Health and Social Development, Hon. Ronnie Skelton has indicated that works on the foundation of the new and modern home for the elderly will start this year at Spooner Estate.

Speaking on the National Democratic Party's radio program on Monday, May 21, Minister Skelton said that plans for the new building have been resubmitted to the Town and Country Planning Department for approval.

The Adina Donovan Home

Photo Credit: BVI Platinum News

The Adina Donovan Home

Photo Credit: BVI Platinum News

The plans were first submitted under the NDP administration which served between 2003 and 2007 and they were approved. However, Minister Skelton explained that the plans had to be resubmitted for approval because after a certain period of time, "if you don't build what you are supposed to build, you have to go back to the Town and Country Planning".

"We resubmitted those plans to the Town and Country Planning and we are expecting those plans shortly. I haven't heard of any objection. I think they are just waiting on a meeting to approve them and we are hoping to tender with those plans as soon as we get them and finalize the final tender; we will then go to construction. This phase of the construction will be the foundation and then next year we will get additional funding to do the walls and the roof, so it will take if I had to guess, about a couple years to completion, which is fair," Minister Skelton had stated.

The construction of the new home for the elderly is linked to Government's plan to utilize the current location of the elderly home as a facility for mental health patients.