COVID-19 Office Safety Precautions Notice

Thank you for giving us the opportunity to provide support and telehealth services to you during the period of lockdown. Following the guidelines of the Ministry of Health, we closed our four offices on March 31, 2020. We are pleased to inform you that we will re-open to provide in-person services on MONDAY JUNE 1, 2020 at 8:00 a.m. All guidelines provided by our Ministry of Health will be adhered to. Thank you for your continued support of our service.


Elder Associates Limited has taken the following precautions to protect our clients, Care Team members, vendors and members of our community to help slow the spread of the coronavirus.

  • Office seating in the waiting room and in counselling/testing rooms has been arranged for appropriate physical distancing.
  • Each person entering our premises must wear a mask.
  • Our Care Team members maintain safe distancing.
  • Restroom soap dispensers are maintained and everyone is encouraged to wash their hands upon arrival at our office.
  • Hand sanitizers that contain at least 60% alcohol are available in the waiting room, counselling/testing rooms and at the reception counter.
  • We schedule appointments at specific intervals to minimize the number of people in the waiting room and office.
  • We ask all clients to wait in their cars until no earlier than 5 minutes before their appointment times.
  • Credit card pads, pens, clipboards and other areas that are commonly touched are thoroughly sanitized after each use.
  • Physical contact is not permitted.
  • Tissues and trash bins are easily accessed. Trash is disposed of on a frequent basis.
  • Common areas are thoroughly disinfected at the end of each day.


Thank you for your cooperation.

Paradigm Shift During A Global Pandemic

As we continue to evolve around what appears to be the ‘new norm’ of being stuck inside, working remotely, etc., it seems as though time has become irrelevant in this age of COVID-19. It can help to remember that literally billions of other people are in the same boat. Let us look at some tips to deal with COVID19 cabin fever


Update: Elder Associates Limited continues to take the health and safety of our Care Team members, clients, vendors and other supporters very seriously.

Therefore, in adherence to the implementation, and further extension, of the national ‘Stay at Home’ directive of all non-essential services, please be advised that our area offices will be closed from Tuesday March 31, 2020 to Thursday April 30, 2020, unless otherwise notified.

The following will be in effect until further notice:

  • All counselling services scheduled during this period will be cancelled and rescheduled.
  • Clients will be advised of the availability of telephonic counselling services, as requested.
  • Clients can call in for telephonic counselling as requested.
  • 24/7 Hotline counsellors will provide services as scheduled.
  • Debriefing sessions for workplace trauma can be facilitated via conference calling.
  • Virtual workshops can be conducted with support from your IT personnel.


The hotline number is: 622-6594

We encourage each other to continue to follow the guidelines and protocols set forth by the offices of the Trinidad & Tobago Ministry of Health, the Chief Medical Officer, the Ministry of National Security, and the Ministry of Communication as we all seek to flatten the curve.

– Updated from 04/01/2020 –

As we continue to adapt to the difficult and challenging changes of the COVID-19 global pandemic, let us seek to re-invent ourselves by changing the way we think. – https://sumairaz.com/mindset-shift-during-a-pandemic


Elder Associates Limited takes the health and safety of our Care Team members, clients, vendors and other supporters very seriously.


Therefore, in adherence to the implementation of the national ‘Stay at Home’ directive of all non-essential services, please be advised that our offices will be closed from Tuesday March 31, 2020 to Wednesday April 15, 2020, unless otherwise notified.


The following will be in effect until further notice:

  • All counselling services scheduled during this period will be cancelled and rescheduled.
  • Clients will be advised of the availability of telephonic counselling services, as requested.
  • 24/7 Hotline counsellors will provide services as scheduled.


We encourage each other to continue to follow the guidelines and protocols set forth by the offices of the Trinidad & Tobago Ministry of Health, the Chief Medical Officer, the Ministry of National Security, and the Ministry of Communication as we all seek to flatten the curve.

– Updated from 03/25/2020 –

PARADIGM SHIFT: “a time when the usual and accepted way of doing or thinking about something changes completely”

The current ever-changing COVID-19 global pandemic has impacted every one of us in both work and life experiences. A paradigm shift has the power to help us change our negative thoughts to positive ones and to embrace these changes as a catalyst to better work and life outcomes.

Elder Associates Limited is here to help you navigate these new and challenging waters by continuing to open our offices to provide counselling and other services in a safe, clean, and sanitized environment. Our aim is to keep everyone safe by minimizing exposure to EAL Care Team members, clients, vendors, and others.

We encourage each other to continue to follow the guidelines and protocols set forth by the offices of the Trinidad & Tobago Ministry of Health, the Chief Medical Officer, and the Ministry of National Security. Let us each develop that paradigm shift of the way we think to trigger wholesome and positive behaviours, and protect our mental health and well-being.

The following are some key resources to provide up-to-date information and best practices:

Experts agree: Mental health is everyone’s business

As mental health and well-being continue to assume greater importance in everyday life, local and international experts in psychology are urging all stakeholders to show an interest in the mental health of their children, co-workers and relatives to ensure a harmonious society.

Speaking at the 25th annual violence prevention conference at the Hyatt Regency Hotel, Port of Spain, on Friday, founder of American advocacy group Awareity, Rick Shaw, urged public and private stakeholders to use networking as a means of addressing mental health issues and to pay closer attention, as subtle warning signs tend to precede incidents of mass violence.


Shaw recalled instances of mass shooting in the US and said there was need to pay closer attention to children and youths displaying violent or troubled tendencies. He encouraged school officials to partner with parents and law enforcement as a means of getting children the treatment they need.


“Violence is like a disease. It can infect someone. Reducing violence is all about looking for the warning signs. The problem is they tend to be scattered across to different individuals, sometimes parents, teachers, law enforcement or others.


“What we see a lot of times, unfortunately, is, these indicators are out there but they are so scattered, no one person can see what is coming. We have to do a better job of prevention and reducing violence and we have to do a better job of listening and give people a way to feel connected.”


Newsday also spoke to criminologist Renee Cummings, who agreed with Shaw, and said relatives and teachers ought to adopt a more proactive approach in preventing violent acts before they were committed.


“There will be no reduction to crime if we don’t tackle violence. I think we’re a very reactive society and we need to be more proactive. We need to look at early intervention and early exposure to violence. The latter is the greatest indicator of whether someone will be involved in violence later in life. There is no single agency that can do that.”


The theme of this year’s conference was Transcending Boundaries Together, which, according to founder of Elder Associates Ltd Dr Patricia Elder,was indicative of the collaborative effort required to overcome psychological challenges.


By Shane Superville | Newsday

Source: https://newsday.co.tt/2018/09/17/experts-agree-mental-health-is-everyones-business/

Shift Work and Family Routines

Submitted by Kamu Laird, M.Sc.

Shift work affects the entire family since family routines can never be fully set. Participation in outside activities such as clubs and sports becomes complicated. Shift workers usually have less time to spend with their family and friends, since they are often at work when regular social activities are scheduled and at home when others are at work. Therefore, shift workers may spend less of their time-off involved in social and recreational activities.

Fatigue may also prevent shift workers from enjoying those recreational and social activities that they are able to participate in. This may be particularly true of parents who have family duties after work. Shift workers may have family obligations that shorten their sleep time, such as caring for young children or elderly family members. Consequently, they tend to sleep poorly.

 

Effective Strategies for Shift Workers

  • Maintain regular eating patterns as much as possible.
  • Time meals carefully. Afternoon workers should have the main meal in the middle of the day instead in the middle of the work shift. Night workers should eat lightly throughout the shift and have a moderate breakfast. That way they should not get too hungry while sleeping during the day and digestive discomfort should be minimal.
  • Pay careful attention to the type of food eaten. Eat crackers and fruit instead of soft drinks and candy bars during work breaks. Reduce the intake of salt, caffeine, and alcohol.
  • Avoid excessive use of antacids, tranquilizers and sleeping pills. It is healthier to watch what and when you eat, and use relaxation techniques to aid sleep.
  • Relax during meals and allow time for digestion.
  • Take leisure seriously.
  • Make time for quiet relaxation before bed to help get better sleep.
  • Plan dates with your partner and times to communicate about issues of concerns (parenting, finances).
  • Make sleep a priority and enlist the entire family’s cooperation in ensuring shift workers get their rest.
  • Get a big calendar and use lots of lists. E-mail notes to family members.
  • Call your spouse and kids on your breaks to stay in touch.
  • Create rituals that bring the whole family together.