For the third time in three weeks, it is my pleasure to announce that the elderly in Gozo will once again benefit from new, better-quality welfare services. Following the past notice on behalf of the Parliamentary Secretariat for Rights of Persons with Disability and Active Ageing - the sole responsible government body for the care and wellbeing of all older persons in the Maltese Islands - that innovative services ranging from long-term care provision to respite facilities will shortly be launched for deserving elderly citizens, this week I announced the instant launch of the CommCare nursing services for elderly people in Gozo. Discrimination between Maltese and Gozitan elders in terms of access to ageing welfare, is now a thing of the past.
As a result, Gozitans can apply for the service and access its full benefits, irrespective of the fact that they do not live in Malta. The next logical step is making available the whole range of services promoted by Commcare to all of Gozo. This goal will be reached in the coming weeks. Gozo has an ageing population that requires - and deserves - the same level of services as Malta's. The fact that previous administrations placed Gozo on the backburner when planning national ageing welfare, meant that the Island lacked essential social and health services for the elderly; this is an anomaly that the Parliamentary Secretariat is constantly seeking to rectify. I am positive that by the time this is implemented fully, the available amenities for the elderly in Gozo will be both numerous and of an exceptional standard.
In the coming days, I will also be announcing the launch of another service which, to-date, is unavailable in Gozo. I am referring to the Night Shelter service; a very beneficial service that provides protection to elderly people who feel distressed at having to sleep alone at home. We are also looking into ways by which to have this service available in different localities. The Night Shelter service enables the elderly to continue to reside within their community (ageing-in-place) and hence, alleviates the pressure on residential care.
Following the success of lifelong learning programmes in Day Centres, lifelong learning sessions will start taking place in care homes for the elderly as of tomorrow. This policy is crucial in contributing towards a healthier and more active lifestyle among care home residents.
In conclusion, I would like to clarify an issue featured in the news last Friday. This regarded a meeting I held with officers-in-charge at Day Centres for the elderly, over which a particular union tried to harm my reputation. The current situation at Day Centres is one inherited from the previous administration and includes a number of flaws that necessitate change. The aim of the meeting in question was to shed light on the situation and assure the officers that they were not going to lose their jobs. The allegations made, which state that I had threatened those present, are completely untrue.