It is with heavy hearts that we inform you of the death of Mr. Ulric Warner, a member of the Board of Directors of Elder Associates Limited. Mr. Warner passed away on Wednesday August 16, 2023.
He will be missed more than words can express. His relationship with Elder Associates Limited spans over 25 years in various incarnations, most recently as a member of the Board. He has been a trusted advisor, subject matter expert, EAP advocate, dedicated colleague, and friend.
Elder Associates Limited (EAL) continues to celebrate 30 years of serving the people of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago and the Greater Caribbean Region. A Thanksgiving Service and Brunch in honour of the dedicated care team members of EAL will be hosted at EAL’s Tacarigua offices, with the service officiated by Pastor Brian Rochester on Friday, June 16, 2023 from 9:00 a.m.
Themed The Journey, the celebrations commemorate the historyencapsulated in each decade that the company has successfully traversed with professionalism, resilience, and equipoise. It began with The Origins, which highlighted the CEO/Founder Dr. Patricia Elder’s response to the call to establish an organization that would provide professional mental health support to the populace. The event took place in Charlotteville, Tobago, in recognition of the village of her ancestors.
Other celebratory events representing EAL’s three decades include, The Growth of Elder Associates Limited and The Transition: The Present, Future and Beyond. These events will focus on EAL’s growth and establishment as a leader in its field while gaining accreditation in January 2013 as an Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) service provider in the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. The events will also serve as opportunities for reflection on the company’s past, its present, and its focus on the future.
As with any organization, Elder Associates Limited has undergone a number of changes. EAL continues to embrace and be gratified by these changes which, to date, have only made the company even more resilient and determined to continue on The Journey.
KINDNESS
There is a balm in Gilead: a soothing flowing healing anointing balm in Gilead. Is there a balm in ‘Gilead’?
Some people soothe many with the balm. It is their stock in trade. It is in their DNA to reach out to others and be kind. The child said, ‘Miss, I want to be kind when I grow up.’
Before you know what kindness really is, you must lose things; feel the future dissolve in a moment like salt in a weakened broth. (Naomi Shihab Nye)
When we are devoted to the development of kindness, it becomes a movement of the heart so deep and so subtle, it is like a movement of the sea close to the ocean floor, all but hidden yet affecting absolutely everything that happens above. That’s the force of kindness. (Sharon Salzberg)
Kindness is leaving the safe harbour of yourself and venturing out into the unknown uncharted waters of the other. It is like yeast, even a morsel can leaven a huge batch. What if ‘kindness’ as we’ve known it for most of our lives –being good to others or just a smile- were only the faint echo of a far more powerful and transformative phenomenon? Just try it.
Even though self-care is a term that has been frequently used in recent times, there’s still uncertainty and misconceptions around what it is and how to practice it. In order to get some clarity, let us begin with one definition that can be found with a quick google search. The World Health Organization (WHO) defined self-care as the ability of individuals, families and communities to promote health, prevent disease, maintain health, to cope with illness and disability with or without the support of a health worker. From this definition, we can see that self-care is about our general wellbeing. The activities that we can incorporate throughout our life on a daily basis that will promote health, prevent illness and develop coping mechanisms that can help us to manage issues that may arise.
Self-reflection is the key to this process. What works for some people may not work for others. It forces us to ask ourselves, what our specific needs are and how they can be met. This process is ever-changing. What we need can change with time and circumstance. Thus, the concept of self-care is just as much a journey as life itself. It can be in the form of emotional, physical or spiritual needs and can be temporary or long term. For example, a warm bath or seeing a friend benefits us temporarily. Practicing daily habits such as having a workout routine, practicing mindfulness or taking our recommended medications or supplements leads to more permanent effects. Self-care also does not have to cost anything. Sometimes financially keeping up with yearly vacations or weekly manicures can cause more undue stress if we are not able to meet those targets. Therefore, trying to be more mindful of our thoughts, behaviours and emotions can be a more practical and sustainable practice in the long run.