Bermuda – Elderly Care

How does Bermuda approach elderly care?

Bermuda’s approach to elderly care is shaped by a combination of government policy, registered charities, and private providers. There are many services and organisations in Bermuda that exist to ensure that seniors’ rights are protected and their quality of life maintained. Oversight sits primarily with Ageing and Disability Services (ADS), whose mission is to support and protect seniors and persons with disabilities at risk of abuse or self-neglect via compliance, programme delivery, education, and stakeholder collaboration.

In less than two years from 2024, it was estimated that 25% of Bermuda’s population would be 65 years or older — a demographic shift that is placing growing pressure on care infrastructure. Unlike larger jurisdictions where care provision can be spread across dozens of hospitals and hundreds of care homes, Bermuda’s small size means the number of facilities is limited and waiting lists can be a reality for families seeking placements.

What rights do older people have in Bermuda?

Bermuda has introduced a formal Charter of Rights for older people. The charter includes ten articles, covering the right to dignity, physical and mental wellbeing, freedom and security, the right to self-determination, and the right to high-quality and tailored care. The government stated the document was developed based on international and Bermudian standards and had been adapted from the European Charter of the Rights and Responsibilities of Older People in Need of Long-Term Care and Assistance.

The government’s goal is to recognise and respect the rights of people who became more dependent on others due to ageing, illness or disability, and to ensure they lead lives of dignity and independence. This rights-based framework is significant because it creates a foundation for advocacy and accountability that families can reference when assessing the quality of care provided to a loved one.

What is the National Seniors Strategy?

The Ministry of Youth, Social Development and Seniors released for public consultation a draft report — “A National Seniors Strategy, 2024–2030 – Celebrating Life and Ageing Well!” — described as a first for Bermuda, fulfilling the Government’s promise to build a fairer and better Bermuda for all its seniors.

The Government identified four pillars aimed at promoting and facilitating ageing well for all: Healthy Ageing, Empowered Citizens, Age-Friendly Environments, and Community. Additionally, areas of concern being addressed include financial assistance, public pensions, housing, transportation, healthcare, and long-term care.

The draft strategy is designed to address the many challenges faced by Bermuda’s ageing population, such as dementia, long-term care, affordable housing, safety, transportation, and healthcare. The Strategy outlines the following principles as critical: a rights-based approach, person-centred care and support, personal responsibility, intergenerational solidarity and support, evidence-based decision-making, and collaboration. You can read more on the Government of Bermuda’s website.

What residential and nursing homes are available in Bermuda?

Given the island’s small size, the number of dedicated care facilities is necessarily limited. However, Bermuda does have a range of options spanning government-run nursing care, registered charities, and smaller private homes. Below is an overview of the main providers.

Westmeath Residential and Nursing Care Home

Westmeath is proud to be Bermuda’s largest nursing home since 1910, specialising in providing assisted-living and long-term nursing care for the elderly, with a patient-centred and dementia-friendly approach. Set in three acres of beautifully manicured gardens on Pitts Bay Road, just outside Hamilton, the facility is capable of caring for 64 residents and is Dementia Friendly.

Westmeath was originally established in 1910 following a bequest by Ellisif Agassiz Trimingham and her sister Emily Eliza Trimingham. The E.A. and E.E. Trimingham Trust was incorporated by Private Act of Parliament in 1936, and amendment acts of 1959 and 1982 changed the object of the Trust, making Westmeath available to all persons regardless of their race, sex or social circumstances.

Westmeath provides care at three different levels: the Residential Wing, the Intermediate Wing, and the Nursing Wing. Services include short-term care, long-term/life care, memory care, and a day activities programme. As a registered charity, Westmeath thrives on community support and contributions to enhance the health and happiness of its residents. Visit westmeath.bm for more information.

Sylvia Richardson Care Facility

The Sylvia Richardson Care Facility is a government-owned, skilled nursing home operated by the Ministry of Health. It provides residential, nursing, and day care to seniors, with residents ranging from independent to semi-dependent. The facility operates 24 hours a day and is located at 4 Old Military Road, St. George’s.

The facility offers daily breakfast, lunch, and dinner to residents, with special dietary options accommodated as prescribed by the nutritionist or doctor. Sylvia Richardson Care Facility has a wheelchair-accessible vehicle and provides transport as requested by nursing and recreational staff, as part of the resident’s programme, or to meet their medical needs. The GAPP team may recommend an elder be placed in a nursing home, rest home, or remain at home with additional home-care services. For information on fees and admissions, visit the official Government of Bermuda page.

Francis Telford Nursing Home

Francis Telford Nursing Home provides long-term nursing care to seniors in a setting described as caring, cosy, and convenient. It is an all-female nursing home committed to fostering physical independence, located at 91 South Road, Southampton Parish. The facility represents one of Bermuda’s more specialised care options, catering specifically to female residents who require ongoing nursing support.

Serenity Gardens Seniors Home

Serenity Gardens Seniors Home is Bermudian owned and operated by a Registered Nurse and a Social Worker, both of whom have seventeen years of proven work experience in the clinical and community setting. The home is located in a private, tranquil setting. Its mandate is to provide companionship, stimulation, and care for seniors who need an environment conducive to their needs, with a primary objective of being an integral part of the healthcare and social needs of Bermuda’s seniors. Visit serenitygardensbermuda.com for details.

Waiting Times and Availability

There may be a wait time for all admissions at government facilities, and the cost of care will depend upon the required category of care and financial ability. Sufficient and affordable elder care is proving to be a major and growing problem for Bermuda, making the care that providers like Westmeath deliver vitally important. Providers are committed to being flexible to meet the changing needs of all of Bermudian society and to maintaining standards of care to help alleviate what is a growing dilemma — caring for an ageing population.

What does the hospital-based long-term care unit offer?

The King Edward VII Memorial Hospital (KEMH), operated by the Bermuda Hospitals Board, provides a dedicated long-term care unit for seniors who require a higher level of medical intervention than a nursing home can offer. The unit provides residents with comprehensive skilled nursing services and assistance with activities of daily living in safe, caring, and supportive environments, including an extensive array of social and recreational activities to help residents live as active, dignified, and independent a life as possible, with a goal of fostering a sense of family and community.

Residents have access to a variety of in-house services, including psychology, occupational and physical therapy, social work, and speech pathology, with a commitment to delivering care in comfortable settings recognised for both quality and compassion. The unit provides treatment and care for persons with low potential for recovery who are not in an acute phase of illness, but who require an intensity of services not available in nursing homes.

Hospitalised seniors who can no longer live independently are assessed by a multidisciplinary team — including the programme manager of Long Term Care, a physician, a medical social worker, a psychologist, a district nurse, a representative of the National Office for Seniors and Disabled, plus representatives of two government nursing homes — to determine appropriate services and placement. They may receive home care or placement in the KEMH Long Term Care Unit or in a nursing home. More information is available at bermudahospitals.bm.

What home-care and community support services exist?

Remaining at home is the preference of many older people, and Bermuda offers several programmes to support this. Government Home Resource Aids provide personal care to the elderly and the physically and mentally challenged in their homes, working closely with Health Visitors and District nurses.

Senior health and wellness clinics provide seniors with services that promote healthy behaviours and lifestyles to maintain and improve health, quality of life, and independence. These include blood pressure screening and monitoring, blood sugar screening, nutrition assessment and counselling, home safety and functional assessments, adult immunisations, and prevention guidance in the areas of ageing, safety, medication, falls, and chronic illness.

Meals on Wheels supplies nourishing lunchtime cooked meals four days a week for persons who, for reasons of health, cannot prepare meals for themselves, whether on release from hospital or on a longer-term basis. Additionally, the Department of Community and Cultural Affairs annually hosts several social events for Bermuda’s senior citizens, including the Annual Seniors Cruise, Seniors Picnic, Jazz Concert in the Park, and the Seniors Award Ceremony. Private home-care agencies such as Bermuda At Home Service also operate across the island, offering professional caregiving support for those who wish to remain in their own homes.

How is elderly care funded in Bermuda?

Healthcare financing for seniors in Bermuda centres on the FutureCare insurance programme. FutureCare is an affordable health insurance plan designed specifically for Bermuda’s seniors, and all full-time residents of Bermuda over the age of 65 are eligible to enrol. Unlike universal public healthcare systems (such as the NHS in the UK or Medicare in Australia), FutureCare operates as a subsidised insurance scheme rather than a fully free-at-point-of-use service.

The government covers 70% of the total cost for residents aged 65 to 74, and 80% of the total cost for residents aged 75 or older. To qualify, residents aged 65 or older must have lived in Bermuda for at least ten consecutive years in the last 20 years, with no more than three months of absence in any year. This residency threshold is important for expats to note — those who have not yet met the ten-year requirement may need to arrange private health insurance to cover care costs.

Financial assistance, which is means-tested, is available to individuals and families unable to meet the cost of food, accommodation, utilities, transportation, laundry, adult day care, home care, health insurance, medication, or medical equipment. Applicants must have resided in Bermuda for at least one year. For care home fees specifically, costs vary by facility and level of care required — contact individual facilities or the Ageing and Disability Services department for current figures.

Frequently asked questions

Is there a public nursing home in Bermuda?

Yes. The Sylvia Richardson Care Facility is a government-owned, skilled nursing home operated by the Ministry of Health. It provides 24-hour residential, nursing, and day-care services to seniors. Admissions are assessed through the GAPP team, and there may be a waiting period.

What is the largest private care home in Bermuda?

Westmeath has been Bermuda’s largest nursing home since 1910. Set in three acres of gardens on Pitts Bay Road just outside Hamilton, it is capable of caring for 64 residents and is Dementia Friendly. It operates as a registered charity and accepts residents at various levels of dependency.

Can elderly residents receive care at home rather than in a care facility?

Yes. Government Home Resource Aids provide personal care to the elderly in their homes, working closely with Health Visitors and District nurses. The GAPP assessment team may also recommend home care with additional support services as an alternative to residential placement.

How does FutureCare work for expats?

All full-time residents of Bermuda over the age of 65 are eligible to enrol in FutureCare. However, residents aged 65 or older must have lived in Bermuda for at least ten consecutive years in the last 20 years with no more than three months of absence in any year to access the government’s medical benefit subsidy. Expats who have not reached this threshold should seek independent financial and insurance advice.

Are there dementia-specific care options in Bermuda?

Westmeath Residential and Nursing Care Home offers memory care as part of its services and is noted for being Dementia Friendly. The National Seniors Strategy 2024–2030 also specifically addresses dementia as one of the key challenges facing Bermuda’s ageing population.

Is there a waiting list for nursing home places in Bermuda?

There may be a wait time for all admissions at government facilities such as the Sylvia Richardson Care Facility. Given Bermuda’s small size and the projected increase in the proportion of residents aged 65 and over, planning ahead and contacting facilities early is strongly advised.

Who oversees the standard of elderly care in Bermuda?

Ageing and Disability Services (ADS) is responsible for supporting and protecting seniors and persons with disabilities at risk of abuse or self-neglect via compliance, programme delivery, education, and stakeholder collaboration. The Bermuda Health Council also plays a role in healthcare quality and policy. You can reach ADS through the Government of Bermuda website.

Are there social activities and community programmes for seniors in Bermuda?

The Department of Community and Cultural Affairs annually hosts several social events for Bermuda’s senior citizens, including the Annual Seniors Cruise, Seniors Picnic, Jazz Concert in the Park, and the Seniors Award Ceremony. Long-term care at KEMH also includes an extensive array of social and recreational activities to help residents live as active, dignified, and independent a life as possible.