The National Commission for Active Aging was launched this morning.

Addressing those present, Parliamentary Secretary for Active Aging Anthony Agius Decelis explained that the objectives of the commission were to assure elderly people have a dignified life, opportunities to work, sufficient health services, and high standard old people’s homes, amongst others.

He added that the aim of the commission is also to "transform Malta into an age-friendly society".

Chairperson of the Commission Professor Marvin Formosa said that the commission will work for elderly people to have more of a voice and play more of a part in society.

According to statistics, Formosa said that by 2050, the percentage of elderly people will double to 28.2 per cent of the population, from the 16.3 per cent nowadays. He added that, meanwhile, the number of workers will decrease and therefore there is the need to facilitate work for elderly people to remain in the work force.

Besides Professor Formosa, the commission, which is renewed every three years and altered to suit the needs of the time, will now be made up of Stephen Abela, Maria-Concetta Ali, Rosette Farrugia Bonello, Maria- Aurora Fenech, Cynthia Formosa, Patrick Vella and Mario Saliba.