Helen D’Amato, parliamentary secretary for the elderly and community care, yesterday inaugurated a new building in Qormi which is to include a day centre. She praised the local council’s initiative, saying that the collaboration with the department for the elderly had resulted in providing a centre where the elderly could pass their free time and help them live in the environment to which they were used.

Day centres were introduced in 1987 and had evolved from a purely social place to one where various services were provided, including physiotherapy and occupational therapy. Elderly persons were also learning various skills and how to use computers.

Another recent development was that the latest centre to open was helping people suffering from dementia, serving also as a respite for their family.