Casa Apap Bologna, which is the first respite home in the community for persons with special needs operated by the private sector, held an open morning yesterday.

The home, situated on Constitution Street, Mosta is four storeys high and includes a spacious back garden, kitchens and kitchenettes, creativity rooms and sensory rooms.

Nathalie Briffa Farrugia, Director of the Home for Independence and Limitless Abilities (HILA), explained that the home has not begun offering its services, as it is the final stages of completion. The aim of HILA is to offer a range of services to persons with special needs, including advocacy; independent supported living housing, support services, learning, development and leisure with a person-centred approach.

Mrs Briffa Farrugia explained that they wanted the home to be situated in a community, which is why it is on a main road in Mosta. “The home is spacious and accessible, offering flexibility as we need to cater for the various needs of people with disability”.

“We took both physical and intellectual disability into consideration, and many features in the home will reflect the consultations we had with people with disability and parents, in order to cater for everyone’s needs.”

The home can hold a maximum of 40 people. “There are single rooms with en-suite bathrooms and double rooms as well.”

“The idea is to support parents with children who have special needs. Residents won’t be permanent. Clients using the services will be offered different forms of therapy, and we might even offer life-skills training, so it would be of a benefit for the clients themselves”.

“The home will be led by a team leader who will have a group of support workers working with him. The idea is for a support worker to be assigned to a person, and cater for their needs. So when people come here, they will be assigned a support person and that support worker will be responsible for their care”.

Vassallo Group Director Charlo Bonnici said that in October together with MCAST, “we will launch a programme held at our own training centre leading to a level three award in disability studies. Staff working here will undergo this programme.”  

He told this newsroom that a second home in Qormi is currently in the initial stages of construction.