A charter outlining the rights and responsibilities of elderly people residing in care homes was launched by Parliamentary Secretary for Active Ageing Justyne Caruana this afternoon.

People admitted to the St Vincent de Paul Residence (SVPR), other government-owned care homes and those in beds leased by the government in church or private care homes are covered by the charter, which was drafted by the SVPR consultative board headed by retired judge Philip Sciberras.

The charter emphasises that residents in care homes have the right to dignity, freedom, security and physical and mental wellbeing, as well as the freedom of choice and self-determination.

It asserts that residents have the right to have their values, beliefs and preferences respected, to be free from abuse, and to be provided with the care and assistance that they require. Residents are also to be provided with a supportive social activity programme providing them entertainment and the opportunity to socialise and interact with others.

Several other rights outlined in the charter address specific situations, including the right for spouses or partners to share a room if they reside in a care home unless medically contraindicated.

But the charter also outlines a number of responsibilities, including the need to respect the rights and need of fellow residents and staff at the facility they reside in. Residents are also asked to inform the relevant authorities about any situations of abuse, mistreatment or neglect they have witnessed or experienced.

Dr Sciberras noted that the consultative board saw the need to draft a charter soon after it was set up a year ago, and that its primary aim was to ensure that residents were treated with dignity, respect and courtesy whilst receiving the care that they deserved.

Dr Caruana, meanwhile, observed that the charter reflected efforts to encourage people to remain actively involved in society at every stage, and emphasised that the assumption that the elderly were a homogenous group should be challenged.

She said that the charter was a “good start” but emphasised that there was far more to be done, including legislation which would be more effective in protecting the elderly and other vulnerable people from abuse.