During this legislature the government provided 1000 beds for the elderly needing long term care. 3000 employees are employed within the elderly sector. 

During the past five years several projects were underataken to cater for the elderly requiring long term care. This includes Pope John Paul II Block at St Vincent de Paul Resident, two new wards at Attard and the opening of Zammit Clapp Nursing Home.   

So far, the government bought 418 beds in the PPP scheme.  During the past few months, bed capacity increased at Mellieha and Zejtun Homes for the Elderly and Zammit Clapp Nursing Home.  

This was stated by the Hon Mario Galea, Parliamentary Secretary for the Elderly and Community Care while visiting the Zejtun Residence for the Elderly.  The residence opened its doors for the elderly in 1994. A year later a day centre for the elderly was opened within the same premises.

Mario Galea said that presently the Zejtun residence employs 120 workers and offers its services to more than 200 residents.

The home has now been given a nursing care setting, whereby the service of a 24 hour nurse was introduced.

The Zejtun Home for the Elderly experienced a refurbishment programme and a new wing was build. The new wing consisted of eight new bedrooms. 5 of these rooms have a kitchenette and an en-suite. The other three rooms have a shower and a common kitchenette. 

Mario Galea added that 19 other rooms were also redesigned. This section offers a service for 47 people. Food is going to be served in their rooms. The facility of a common kitchenette for relatives of residents was also introduced.

The home now has a dining room on each floor. The concept of a lounge area on every floor where different activities can be organized according to the interest and needs of the residents was also introduced.