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Work, Life and Ageing in
Trinidad. Let’s look at the
research!
M
arjorie is 60 years
old. A single mother
of three and grandmother
of one, she also works
full-time and cares for two
ageing parents. Although
all of Marjorie’s children
are adults living on their
own, she assists them
financially and cares for
her grandson whenever
she can.
Marjorie’s life is chock
full of responsibilities.
She acknowledges this
and knows that it will not
change soon; so she
puts aside 15 minutes for
herself every day, which
is usually spent relaxing
after a long day of work
before she has to look after
her parents. This requires
preparation of their meals,
Members of the Work/Life
Balance and Ageing Team and
representative of SEMAVIL at our
MOU Reception in January 2017
What are some of the
responsibilities in our lives?
Work, Life and Ageing
ensuring that they take
their medication and
getting them ready for bed.
Marjorie is also a member
of the Trinidad and Tobago
Association for Retired
Persons (TTARP). Here
she engages in activities
that stimulate her body
and mind such as yoga,
meditation and drama. She
is able to connect with and
benefit from the support
of other members who,
like Marjorie, also care for
their parents. Although
Marjorie sometimes feels
overwhelmed, she says
that she likes caring for
her parents and knows
that working keeps her
financially able to properly
do this.
Marjorie is balancing
work and life, as well as
practicing active ageing.
“Work/life balance” and
“active ageing” are not
terms that one hears on
an everyday basis in this
society. However, in the
project Work/Life Balance
and Ageing in Trinidad:
Studying the Productivity
and Wellbeing of Working
Men and Women these
are words we use every
day. This three-year project
is being undertaken by
the Institute for Gender
and Development Studies
(IGDS) and the Social
Work Unit, Department
of Behavioural Sciences,
Faculty of Social Sciences
and is funded by the
Research Development
Impact Fund of The
University of the West
Indies. Led by scholars
Professor Patricia
Mohammed and Dr Cheryl-
Ann Boodram, the study
considers how work/life
balance is either offset or
aggravated by the longer
life expectancy of the
population.
The study asks the
questions: Do working
people depend on the
retired population of ageing
parents and extended
family for child care? Are
they additionally burdened
with caring for ageing
people in their lives?
The study is a hands-
on investigation of the
conditions that obtain in
the workplace in Trinidad
and Tobago as well as the
facilities available to all of
us as we cope in a more
accelerated world with
the demands of financial
cutbacks, battling traffic to
get to work and back home
then to deal with household
chores, caring for children
and ageing parents; and
within all of this, trying to
live life as stress-free as
possible.
The findings of this high
impact research project
thus far indicate that the
family dynamic in Trinidad
is slowly changing.
It is not always possible
for people to depend
on the extended family
to care for dependents.
We cannot assume that
grandparents will take care
of grandchildren; many
older persons are working
beyond retirement age to
meet medical and other
needs, including assisting
their adult children.
Additionally, working
persons work longer
hours due to technological
advances, many taking
their work home and as
a result spending less
time with family members,
exercising or practicing
self-care.
The project will hold
a two-day national
conference on 26-27 April
2018 to share findings
and recommendations,
including initiatives
from other societies to
cope with rapidly ageing
populations and work/
life balance. Many
stakeholders including
agencies who deal with
senior citizens, pensions,
housing for the aged, as
well as government policy
makers and civil society
organisations will be invited
to join us to examine the
relevance and practicality
of these recommendations.
The project is geared
decisively to making an
impact and hopes to
generate interest among
all stakeholders to enable
policy and other advocacy
in work, family and ageing
to address gaps that
currently exist.
The project is delighted
that TTARP has been
involved as a partner
from the beginning of this
project in 2015. As one
of the few organisations
in Trinidad and Tobago
that work toward the
continuation of healthy and
active lifestyles among the
population 50 and over,
TTARP’s involvement
is both welcome and
vital. TTARP continues
to lend support and we
look forward to their
full partnership at the
conference. The project
is geared to meeting the
needs of Marjorie and
many like her who are
coping with increasing
demands on their finances
and time, thus making for a
more balanced and healthy
lifestyle for citizens of
Trinidad and Tobago.
Submitted by:
Work/Life Balance &
Ageing Project.
Institute for Gender and
Development Studies
St Augustine Unit
The University of the West
Indies
