Salmon

Winifred Atkinson, a 72-year-old widow of Catadupa, St James, was sitting at home idly when her daughter saw an advertise-ment in the newspaper for the Water Lane Senior Citizens' Club, run by Merah Salmon.

The senior citizen swiftly enrolled for membership, a decision that she says has blessed her life.

"Since I enrolled in this club, it has helped me a lot because when I am not able to leave my house to come here I don't feel so good. When I am here, I do embroidery and hats, and other craft items, and these are placed on exhibition," she said.

Good feeling

"I feel extremely good when I make my items and get an excellent grade. We (the seniors and Salmon) would meet and talk and enjoy ourselves."

An upbringing in the Salvation Army has left Merah Salmon prepared to serve the elderly, like Atkinson.

She has held the post of parish organiser for senior citizens in St James at the Ministry of Labour and Social Security office in Montego Bay for the last 10 years.

According to her, it has been a challenging, but rewarding position, as she has been given the opportunity to transform the lives of hundreds of senior citizens.

Challenging and rewarding

"It has been challenging and rewarding in the sense that you are able to help people. The challenges comes when you have to seek assistance for some of the seniors, it is sometimes not possible. But you gain a wealth of knowledge working with them," she explained.

According to Salmon, it has been one of the greatest joys for her to work in this capacity, as she has always loved and respected seniors.

"As a Christian, I was brought up in the Salvation Army and this is one of the areas where they go out and care for people so it has been a part of me since childhood," she said.

"I remember that as a child, my parents would always send me around with foodstuff to give to elderly persons so the seniors always loved me," she explained.

Salmon was also a member of Youth for Christ and Kiwanis, which also prepared her for what she does today.

This native of the parish of St Ann has a large portfolio of responsibilities that many times pushes her above and beyond the call of duty. However, this has not perturbed her, as she believes a job of this nature requires selflessness and a deep love for people - qualities she already possesses.

Some of her responsibilities include forming clubs in the communities, recruiting volunteers, organising and conducting presidents' and volunteers' meetings, making referrals to agencies regarding the care and needs of the seniors, and registering them for health, pension and other programmes.

Most of the programmes that have been implemented to assist the seniors under her care are her initiatives, but she explains that she does not act on her own, as she consults with the seniors to determine their interests and needs before implementing ideas.