Renovated Kitchen Enhances Elderly Care
The Government has handed over a newly renovated main kitchen at the Adina Donovan Home for the Elderly, marking an upgrade designed to improve nutrition, safety and day-to-day operations for residents and staff. The project — funded largely by Unite BVI Foundation and supported by multiple public and private partners — is part of a broader effort to strengthen social care facilities across the Territory.
The Government of the Virgin Islands has officially handed over a renovated main kitchen at the Adina Donovan Home for the Elderly, a project officials say will strengthen daily care, nutrition and safety for residents. Minister for Health and Social Development Honourable Vincent O.
Wheatley described the occasion as more than a building upgrade. "Today’s handover is more than the completion of a kitchen. It reflects our commitment to dignity, compassion and quality care for our elderly residents, and to providing staff with safe and functional spaces to do their work," he said, adding that investments in facilities are investments in people and the respect owed to seniors.
Deputy Secretary in the Ministry of Health and Social Development Sheniah Armstrong Jones framed the renovation as part of a wider strategy to improve social care across the Territory. "This project demonstrates what is possible when public institutions, private partners and community organisations come together with a shared sense of responsibility," she said, calling the works a move from temporary fixes to sustainable improvements that enhance residents' daily lives and strengthen the social care system.
Manager of the Adina Donovan Home, Ritzia Turnbull Smith, thanked partners and stakeholders for turning a long-standing need into a modern, functional kitchen. She singled out Unite BVI Foundation as the major funding partner and praised the collaboration that made the work possible.
Representatives from Unite BVI joined staff and government officials at the handover. Programme Coordinator Alexandra Katra said the renovation "tells a powerful story of partnership," while Executive Director Kim Takeuchi called the project "a testament to the impact of bringing people, great ideas and resources together for sustainable positive change and to uplift our community’s most vulnerable." Environmental Health Division officer Shernette Grant commended the safety and compliance improvements and stressed the importance of continued oversight to maintain standards.
Renovation works included structural repairs, upgraded electrical systems, installation of modern commercial-grade equipment, new cabinetry, an improved layout and other safety enhancements. The project drew support from multiple partners, including Unite BVI Foundation, Belmont Homeowners’ Association, Drake’s Traders Ltd, Harneys, LDS Architectural Services, Facilities Management, Public Works Department, Solid Waste Department, Commercial Dive Services, 24/7 Trucking Equipment, Hammock Construction & Maintenance Services and Leeward Fabrication.
The Ministry of Health and Social Development thanked all contributors and reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring residents at the Adina Donovan Home continue to live in comfort, dignity and care. Officials say the upgraded kitchen will directly improve food preparation, nutrition and working conditions for staff, with positive effects on residents’ daily experience.
Primary source: BVI Government