By this letter, I would like to draw the attention of the authorities concerned, regarding the state-of-affairs in private residential homes for the elderly especially those found to the south of the island. Unluckily I had the misfortune of suffering bad experiences in two such homes where my dear mother was concerned.

To begin with, the carers employed should have more knowledge and training on how to handle old people especially those who during their stay in these homes become wheelchair bound. I even wonder whether the managers themselves have ever attended a geriatrics course!

There is a lack of apparatus needed to handle these old people from a wheelchair onto a bed. These old people are simply “manhandled” by two or even one carer while the old person is risking his skin being literally torn in the process.

What about the lack of carers attending all these old people at night time when only one carer is employed to supervise the whole residence. To crown it all, the relatives of these people are paying huge sums of money in the process of seeing their beloved ones being given the necessary care at such an important stage in life.

These are only some of the shortcomings that have to be addressed before permits are granted for the opening of such homes. Those homes that already exist should be supervised immediately so that similar abuses will stop for the benefit of our dear ones.

Catherine Caruana

Kalkara