Broadly speaking, policies relating to ageing over the years have been oriented towards the health and/or social care needs of older people, exclusively referring to health care or social services perspectives. My government, as amply indicated in its election manifesto, wanted to engage in broader debate and action on the subject of ageing, recognises the diversity of issues and opportunities in which older people are interested.

From the outset we have recognised that there is actually a broader dimension, and we wanted to avoid the traditional but inappropriate ‘one size fits all’ public policies. In contrast, past administrations have barely considered the cultural and artistic dimensions of ageing or, if they have, have usually included them under such headings as ‘social and leisure activities’ and ‘volunteering’.

Similar arguments apply to the disability sector, where previous governments seem to have paused, having achieved a considerable number of measures in respect of accessibility, whilst now we are tackling the subject from a wider perspective.

A quality leap forward

Providing the chance of a better life for this sector of our society is not an end unto itself, but a beginning – albeit a very solid requirement. Up to this very day we are still establishing secure legal frameworks, together with national standards. The quality leap forward came about with training schemes and programmes with employability in mind.

On this subject we are working hard, hand-in-hand with the Employment and Training Corporation, the Malta Communications Authority and Aġenzija Sapport. The involvement of the National Special Olympics Council has opened up an even broader perspective in that we do not merely meet disabilities and needs, but explore and expose further the skills and talents that people with disability have in the various sporting disciplines.

With this in mind, and in line with our election manifesto – with regard to both the disability sector and that of the elderly, we have successfully ventured into the wider world of culture and arts. Besides the economic and social wellbeing of these persons, we looked further in finding other ways of self-fulfilment in the lives of those who form part of these two special parts of our population. This week’s agreement between the Manoel Theatre and the Long-term Care Facility at St Vincent de Paule is evidence of our commitment in this important area.

The Theatre and the elderly

The agreement is for the Manoel Theatre, through its Toi Toi Education Programme, to send a specially selected singer who will sing in the wards and corridors of St Vincent de Paule, as well as at bedsides, to ‘take the theatre’ – in the form of live music – to those who are no longer physically able to go to the theatre.

Send a Song, the programme’s title, is very dear to the programme, since music can mobilise and motivate people in several ways, be it emotionally, physically or cognitively. Such special moments have already been experienced through a Manoel Theatre pilot project visiting 12 homes, leaving no doubt that this programme will enrich the lives of many people who may think that they live on the periphery of the rest of society.

This is another important step towards the provision of a qualitative service to our residents and clients. It is the government’s aim to continue providing quality care to the older residents of St Vincent de Paul Long-Term Care Facility, particularly those suffering from dementia. To this end, my Parliamentary Secretariat is continuously seeking partners and stakeholders to embark on new initiatives. 

The importance of this initiative may not be fully appreciated if it is not seen in its right perspective, as it is a follow up to previous measures successfully taken by my Secretariat over the last two years. We already have active ageing initiatives well underway with regard to opera through special arrangements with Gozo’s two main theatres. The understanding is that we acquire an agreed number of tickets to be made available to older people, selected from those who apply through specific criteria.

Music and drama as an opportunity

These initiatives are also meant to expose older people to arts and culture, often serving to encourage them to revive the passion for operatic and other musical events they may have cherished for many years. Both through expert opinion and factual experience, these initiatives provide a revival of talents and appreciation skills that may have been hibernating over the years, due to old age. Offering such opportunities is another way of convincing the elderly that they are indeed part of the whole, a fully-fledged unit within the whole community. They also provide a useful platform by which they can revive their preferences, their skills, talents and knowledge in the world of music, the bel canto and culture in general.  

Only last month we had our second theatrical presentation – specifically arranged for the elderly and those with disability – by professional artists in the Żararti group, ably led by veteran actor Narcy Calamatta. In the St Vincent de Paule theatre, it was not simply the popular performance on stage – with which many of the older members of the audience may have been acquainted in their early years. It also brought the international tradition of professional acting with an added value to usual entertainment: a practical style of interaction between the stage and the crowd, between the actors and the audience, rising above any disability, whether physical or intellectual. As Narcy himself remarked at the end of the well-attended event, it was not meant to facilitate matters to people with a disability, but rather to include them in fully appreciating and interacting as all the crowd – actors and audience – could do.

A lesson from San Remo

On a personal note, I should express my joy at the special treat provided by the popular San Remo Festival to millions of television viewers last weekend. It was inspiring to have on stage two special people with disabilities among so many international celebrities. It made me dream of a time when we Maltese and Gozitans will give such prime recognition to our own people with disabilities who are equally brimming with musical talents.

Nicole Orlando, the young Italian Special Olympics gold-medallist, inspired the audience with her brave heart and positive outlook on life that enabled her to perform as any athlete should, irrespective of any disability. The 22-year-old proudly described herself as “running and travelling, determined to participate, show my abilities, reach my goals and win!”

It was then Ezio Bosso’s turn to awe the worldwide audience with his magnificent piano recital that resulted in a standing ovation. The internationally-renowned 44-year-old composer contracted a degenerative disease in 2011 but is ready to face and entertain large audiences with his music. He insists that “for a disability, music is a fortune and, as the great Claudio Abbado says, it is our therapy. I have stopped asking myself ‘why?’ and ‘why me?’. You say it’s a problem: I tell you it’s an opportunity!”

Indeed, I must recall our unforgettable concert held in Gozo as part of Soċjetà Ġusta Award, Winter Moods and Friends where the friends were people with disability themselves who performed with this popular band. I must say that that was indeed an opportunity not only for our special performance but for all of us in the audience who enjoyed such a unique opportunity.

Do I need to say anything else?

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