PN MP Robert Cutajar, during his adjournment speech in Parliament, said that a case involving an elderly couple wanting to be placed closer together within a home has been ongoing for over a year.
Robert Cutajar was speaking about the elderly and stressed the need for more attention be given to this sector. He said that the couple were in care, however, had been separated and asked whether this is what older people deserved in this day and age.
He spoke of a day centre that was closed on a particular day without notice, resulting in elderly persons having gone there only to find the door closed. On this topic, he mentioned that this particular centre had been suffering from a lack of staff for a while.
He said that "It is good to hear that calls were put out for day centre workers," however argued that persons with years of experience were turned away, stating that experience wasn't taken into consideration as the theory exam results took priority.
The PN MP then turned to St Vincent De Paul. He said that many elderly persons there are demoralised and frightened. "A number of elderly have been placed in beds without curtains, and others in areas that used to serve as dining rooms". He claims that people are now eating food in the corridors or locked in their room. He also mentioned a lift that hadn't worked for days. "Refurbishment shouldn't have taken place in the winter months, when the elderly people are most likely to suffer"."Where is the respect for their dignity?"
Turning to Mater Dei, he touched on the issue of patients with different illnesses being placed in the same corridor together.
The PN MP quoted Parliamentary Secretary Justyne Caruana who had told The Malta Independent, "The lack of long term planning over the years is quite evident otherwise would not be facing this difficult situation". In response, the PN MP said that the PL has been in government for two years, "how long will you keep blaming the previous administration"?