Less than one month after unveiling the initiative during his parliamentary Sectoral Debate Presentation, Jamaica’s Minister of Health and Wellness Dr Christopher Tufton kicked off his ambitious, community-centered CARE Agenda last week, opening with targeted programming for the nation’s fast-expanding older adult population.
The launch of the agenda’s first component took place at the Chinese Benevolent Association Centre on the Mona campus of the University of the West Indies, where Tufton presided over the inaugural Training of Trainers workshop focused on home-based geriatric care for older adults.
The CARE Agenda, short for Community Arranged Response Efforts, is a sweeping public health framework designed to strengthen grassroots healthcare across Jamaica and boost quality of life for all residents. Beyond specialized training for elderly home care – a cornerstone of the initiative’s healthy aging priority – the agenda includes a diverse slate of additional programs spanning social media literacy for children, community support networks for individuals navigating menopause and andropause, specialized lifestyle clinics, public education on fertility and responsible parenting, targeted interventions to address period poverty and improve adolescent health, expanded fitness opportunities through the existing Jamaica Moves initiative, community-centered mental health support, and expanded substance abuse outreach and care.
At the core of the entire agenda is a shift toward community-rooted care models that meet populations where they are, rather than relying solely on facility-based treatment. Speaking at the workshop launch, Tufton emphasized that healthy aging extends far beyond just treating acute and chronic illness.
“It is about ensuring that older Jamaicans remain active, independent and connected to their families and communities for as long as possible,” he explained.
Tufton drew particular attention to the underrecognized, critical work of unpaid family and community caregivers, who shoulder the vast majority of long-term care responsibilities for older Jamaicans. Like many nations around the globe, Jamaica’s informal care network provides most support for the country’s aging population, a demographic that is growing faster than any other age segment.
“International estimates suggest that almost 75 per cent of long-term care is provided by family members and community caregivers, quietly and selflessly supporting their loved ones every day. With an estimate of 100,000 to 150,000, these caregivers do far more than assist with medical needs. They prepare meals, purchase food and medication, provide transportation to clinics, help with bathing, dressing, feeding and mobility, manage appointments, and offer the emotional support and companionship that protects [overall well-being],” Tufton said, praising the uncompensated work these individuals contribute to the nation’s health system.
Currently, Jamaica counts roughly 375,000 residents aged 60 and older, a number projected to climb to 400,000 by 2030. Tufton framed this rapid growth as both a milestone of improved public health outcomes and increased life expectancy, and a pressing call to reimagine how the country supports its aging population.
Repeating his core framing of the initiative, Tufton noted: “Healthy ageing is about much more than treating disease. It is about enabling older people to remain active, independent, and connected to their families and communities for as long as possible. It is also about recognising that quality care begins long before someone enters a hospital or clinic. That is why the Ministry of Health & Wellness is advancing a community-based model of geriatric care that brings services closer to the people who need them most. Our approach is built on a simple principle: strong families and strong communities create healthier older adults.”
To deliver on this vision, the Ministry has laid out six core strategic priorities for the healthy aging component of the CARE Agenda. First, the ministry will launch pilot specialized geriatric clinics in the parishes of St Ann and St Catherine, designed to deliver comprehensive health assessments and targeted specialized care for older adults. Second, it will expand home-based care services through structured, regular home visits led by community health aides and overseen by public health nursing teams.
Third, the initiative includes ongoing training for both professional healthcare workers and informal caregivers to help them identify early warning signs of acute illness, age-related functional decline, caregiver burnout, and social isolation – all common issues that can harm the health of older adults. Fourth, the ministry will strengthen cross-sector partnerships with the Ministry of Labour & Social Security, the National Council for Senior Citizens, local government authorities, faith-based organizations, and local community groups to build a fully integrated, coordinated support network for aging Jamaicans.
Fifth, the agenda prioritizes “ageing in place,” a model that empowers older Jamaicans to continue living safely, independently, and with dignity in their own homes and local communities for as long as they are able. Finally, the initiative will fund local community action through the dedicated CARE Fund, which works to strengthen family support systems, encourage widespread adoption of healthier lifestyles, and expand support infrastructure for vulnerable populations across the country.
“As we prepare for the future, our success will not be measured only by the number of clinics we build or the programmes we launch, but by whether our older citizens are able to age with dignity, independence, and the support of families and communities that care,” Tufton concluded.