I am very pleased that this week, we have finalised some projects that aim to enhance national community services for the elderly living in Malta and Gozo. As you all know, one of the government’s priorities, in accordance with the National Strategic Policy on Active Ageing, is to increase and improve community based services for the elderly. This is also being done in order to address the demand for residential services from the elderly.
This week, we began by opening a new day centre at Santa Luċija; a unique day centre, located in the midst of the Chinese Garden, where elderly people can enjoy the surrounding scenery and atmosphere. Speaking about the environment, this week I also joined the Minister for Environment, Leo Brincat, in visiting a learning session held at the Zejtun Day Centre. This session was being coordinated by the PARKS directorate and focused on the importance of trees and having a sustainable environment. This is part of the nationwide lifelong learning programme for the elderly, which we launched last October.
The day centre in Santa Lucia was opened after an agreement reached with the relevant Local Council. This agreement only materialised thanks to a call we had made last October for collaboration with local councils and other entities for the provision of community services for the elderly, such as day centres, night shelters, and respite services. Through this initiative, we also tripled the amount of respite beds and managed to introduce this service in Gozo.
On the same note, this week, we officially launched the first night shelter service in Gozo. This was achieved through an agreement with Dar Padova, situated in Għajnsielem, where we are providing 12 beds for this service. This service will also help us address the issue of bed shortages for residential beds in Gozo, where the number of spaces in care homes is very limited, due to the fact that long-term care services were only introduced this January, by the Parliamentary Secretariat I am responsible for, through a Private Public Partnership scheme held with Villa San Lawrenz Home for the Elderly.
A few days ago, we also met with UNESCO, whose office is based in Xewkija, Gozo. During this meeting we discussed the possibility of collaborating in the disability and elderly sectors. This meeting was also attended by officials of the National Commission for Persons with Disability, headed by the Chairperson Oliver Scicluna, in order to discuss the role of the Commission as an important stakeholder in the area of persons with disability.
As for the near future, we have new projects in the pipeline for people with disability in Gozo. In this sector, the project for a residential home for people with disability has already been launched and around 10 people with disability will benefit from this service in Gozo. Work is also in progress on a learning hub for people with disability in Għajnsielem. Very soon, we will also introduce Aġenzija Sapport services in Gozo. Hence, Gozitans will be able to benefit from Sapport services in Gozo, bringing to an end the blatant discrimination that was put in place and upheld by the previous government legislation.
Dr Caruana is the Parliamentary Secretary for the Rights of People with Disability and Active Ageing