St. Croix’s Forgotten Seniors?

ST. CROIX — Some seniors on St. Croix residing at the Flambouyant Gardens Independent Living Facility in Barren Spot have seemingly been forgotten by their families, living the responsibilty to other seniors who have banded together to survive. Kernita Arthurton, who has for years been providing meals occasionally to the seniors, is calling on the community for help. Watch the video above.

The facility is managed by The Lutheran Social Services of the Virgin Islands, which receives funding from the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Because it’s an independent living facility, however, the seniors are to take care of themselves and receive help from family members. When seniors are unable to pay utilities, the cost is covered by the HUD funding. 

Officials at the facility said many of the seniors are treated well by their family members, who visit often to check on their loved ones. Others seniors, however, have to rely on other members of the community for support, as their family members have apparently forgotten them. 

The Lutheran Social Services provides a number of services at the facility. The organization has teamed up with AmeriCorps, a voluntary civil society program supported by the U.S. federal government, foundations, corporations, and other donors engaging adults in public service work with a goal of “helping others and meeting critical needs in the community,” to support the seniors at Flambouyant Gardens. AmeriCorps helps with laundry, check on the seniors, participate in activities with them, among other tasks.