Background: Community Health Aides (CHAs) play an important part in the public health system in Jamaica. Supported by the Ministry of Health and Wellness (MOHW), approximately 2,200 CHAs form the cornerstone of home-based health service provision in the country. Traditionally assisting underserved communities by supporting maternal and neonatal health and non-communicable diseases (NCDs) management, demographic changes have demanded improvements in the healthcare for older adults at the primary care level, prompting Primary Care Renewal. As part of the renewal process, health workers who maintain a strong community presence, will require upskilling in geriatric care. In parallel with the training of other groups, there is a need to improve the capacity of CHAs for geriatric care to serve community dwelling older adults. One geriatric care workshop was conducted in each of three health regions across Jamaica over eight months, targeting one hundred and fifty participants. This paper aims to describe participants’ perceptions about the usefulness, content, and approach of the training workshops.

Method: Data are analysed for one hundred and twenty-six workshop participants from three health regions in Jamaica who completed a self-administered, 12-item evaluation form at the end of their 3-day workshop. The form captured participants’ basic demographic details and their views on the approach, usefulness, and content of the workshop. Frequencies and measures of central tendency are reported as well as main themes emerging from analysis of open-ended questions.

Results: The programme achieved a participation rate of 84%. The median age of the participants was 40 (IQR = 14), and the majority was female (97.6%). The workshop evaluation response rate was 100%. CHAs reported a median of 8 (IQR = 14.5) years in their caregiving role.

The majority (93.6%) of participants thought that the entire workshop was “very useful”, and that the schedule and format met their expectations (98%). More than half (68%) the participants thought that the way the information was presented helped them to understand. No participant reported finding the information difficult to understand. Participants highlighted the need for more comprehensive coverage of topics including bedsores (42% of responses), foot care (35.7% of responses), dementia (26.8%) and chronic disease management (23.2%). The CHAs unanimously expressed (91%) that similar training held every 6 to 12 months would be ideal . Knowledge gaps reported by the participants included nutrition (20% of responses), mental and cognitive health (13% of responses), communication (12% of responses) and first aid/ cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (CPR) (10% of responses). Ninety-two percent of participants welcomed the formation of a caregiver academic network for other similar conversations. The CHAs shared sentiments that “… training should be done more often…” and that they “… felt empowered and learned a lot.”

Conclusion: Small group, face to face training of CHAs is an effective way to engage this group and address knowledge gaps in geriatric care. The participants’ perspectives confirmed the potential for improved health outcomes for older adults, with better trained CHAs. Facilitating ‘Training of Trainers’ sessions would support the sustainability and reach of the project.

Dr. Adrienne Thompson is a lecturer at the Mona Ageing and Wellness Centre (MAWC), part of The University of the West Indies, Mona Campus. With a background in gerontology and public health, she is a team member in advancing MAWC’s mission to enhance the health and well-being of older adults across Jamaica and the Caribbean. Dr. Thompson contributes to the Centre’s comprehensive training programs, including the Post Graduate Diploma in Gerontology and the Master of Public Health with a specialization in Gerontology, which are designed to equip professionals with the skills necessary to address the complex needs of ageing populations.

Her academic and professional endeavours are deeply aligned with MAWC’s four strategic pillars: research, training, outreach, and policy influence. Dr. Thompson actively engages in research initiatives that inform national policies and community-based interventions aimed at promoting healthy ageing.

As a speaker at the IFA’s 17ᵗʰ Global Conference on Ageing, Dr. Thompson brings insights into the challenges and opportunities associated with an ageing population in a small island developing country, drawing from her experience in education, research, and policy development.

 

Dr. Kayon Donaldson-Davis is a dedicated public health professional and researcher based at the Mona Ageing and Wellness Centre at the University of the West Indies (UWI), Mona Campus, Jamaica, where she works as a lecturer and medical doctor. Her work focuses on ageing, community health, and the social determinants of health. She contributes to academic instruction which has lead to the development of a geriatric training programme for medical doctors, launched in January 2021. Her work includes outreach, policy development and applied research, particularly in areas related to gerontology, geriatrics and community-based health interventions. Her research spans a range of topics, including the impact of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) on older adults in Jamaica, caregiver burden and support systems for the elderly, long-term care, community responses to public health crises, such as COVID-19. Dr. Donaldson-Davis has co-authored several publications in peer-reviewed journals, contributing valuable insights into the health challenges and needs of Jamaica’s ageing population. Beyond academia, she actively participates in public education initiatives in various fora. She continues to play a pivotal role in advancing the understanding of ageing and community health in Jamaica, bridging the gap between research, training and practical health solutions.