Addressing the meeting, Dr Sant said that the problems the elderly are facing are a result of the Nationalist Party’s old-fashioned leadership. He believes that the services offered at St Vincent de Paule are of a low standard.

And the closing of health centres, the rising cost of living and concerns over a possibly insecure future also add to the burden on the elderly, continued Dr Sant.

The MLP aims to propose new updated policies on the situation of the elderly.

Labour MPs Silvio Parnis and Marie Louise Coleiro also addressed the meeting to outline what the party believes are the obstacles it can help the elderly community overcome.

Mr Parnis said that there must be more focus on prevention so that fewer elderly people will have to be admitted into care. He also spoke of the importance of eating well at an advanced age in order to avoid certain health problems.

Ms Coleiro highlighted the fact that many old people do not manage to cope with the increased cost of living, especially now with the added tax on telephone services.

He concluded by saying that, according to statistics, 25 per cent of pensioners live in poverty. A strong economy is needed for this to be rectified and for the welfare sector to be sustainable once again.