A wise saying by Abraham Lincoln has remained anchored in my mind. “In the end, it’s not the years in your life that count. It’s the life in your years.”

The best adaptation of Lincoln’s words today inspires me even more: ‘let us not only add years to life, but rather add life to years’ – a slogan used for World Health Day 2012. It motivates me in all the initiatives taken for the elderly – and particularly in the active ageing sector.

From words to facts

The challenge for Malta and Gozo, as for all countries in the world, is not only to add further years to life but, more importantly, to add life to years and to ensure that the elderly can live full, enriching and productive lives. For this to be possible, good health is essential, together with full empowerment for this sector of society to come forward and grasp the opportunities that are being offered.    

Last Monday, together with expert gerontologist Dr Marvin Formosa, I briefed the media on the minimum standards for residential homes and explained 

that a relative Bill will soon be moved in Parliament for the establishment of an autonomous authority to secure and enforce such standards. These standards will be applicable to all state, private and church homes and will play an important role in the issuance of new licences for such homes. As one journalist present commented, we mean to walk our talk in ensuring that our elders are given the quality services they deserve, to the point of fining managements who do not meet these standards.

Standards for residential homes

The new authority will have the power to monitor, inspect and enforce the established rules and standard settings in a disciplined manner through regular communication with residents, family and close friends, staff, managers and others. Monitoring, investigating and observing the daily life and management of each home, together with an audit of written policies, procedures and records, and both scheduled and ad hoc inspections will be part of the new authority’s tasks.

The bill setting up such a national authority will specifically ensure the enforcement of the minimum standards that acknowledge the unique and complex needs of each individual residing in a care home. These stipulate the minimum requirements for the facility to operate a care home as well as the required knowledge, skills and competencies needed by management and staff to ensure care homes deliver quality services.

The underlying principle upon which these standards are based include person-centred care, dignity, privacy, physical and mental wellbeing, self-fulfilment, autonomy/ empowerment and equality.  The minimum standards will apply to all levels of services provided – from residential, cleaning, catering, nursing, security and upkeep. We intend to reassure older people – and their relatives – that they will receive the quality services they deserve.

The Standards also advocate that care homes should promote a culture of active ageing consistent with Malta’s National Strategic Policy for Active Ageing. The mission of care homes should go beyond the traditional concept of ‘elderly care’ and should enable residents to realise their full potential for physical, social and mental well-being. It is another way of ensuring an independent and secure lifestyle – in other words, we mean to add life to years.

The consultation process will include two seminars at which the bill will be presented and explained in detail. Feedback will also be gathered via email on [email protected]. I hope that the participation of the public and a healthy debate will be conducive to improving the sector to the desired levels and standards.

First Commissioner for the disability sector

Wednesday was a red-letter day for the rights of people with disabilities. Malta has its first Commissioner for the rights of this sector of our society. For the past two years, a hard-working collaborator, Oliver Scicluna, has ably led the National Commission (now rebranded as a regulator) for People with Disability (KNDP).

In congratulating Oliver on his deserved – albeit challenging –appointment, I wish to borrow one of the many comments written in the social media: “An outstanding youngster and disability activist turned policy-maker – Oliver has already brought about extensive transformation in the disability sector.” It is indeed encouraging to work closely with well-meaning people in the new Commissioner’s office!

The newly-appointed Commissioner of this new body will now take on a more regulatory role. Aġenzija Sapport will take on much of KNDP’s previous role in offering support and services to persons with disability, and the commission can start focusing on enforcement and regulation. The Commission will also be seeking larger premises and funding to strengthen its workforce.

A reduction in complaints case load

The Commission’s Annual Report for 2014-15 reveals that it worked on some 327 complaints during the year, comprised of 203 cases pending from previous years and a further 124 new complaints. The report shows a reduction of 37 in the number of new complaints (or 20 per cent) compared to the previous year, when it had worked on 161 new complaints. In its first 15 years the Commission has worked on a total of 1,645 complaints, with the highest number of complaints (172) filed in 2008-2009.

It should be noted that the main cause for complaints remains accessibility. Despite the hard work carried out by KNDP, and the legislative measures taken by this government, offenders took up to six months to acknowledge the Commission’s complaint, with some also going through court proceedings. 

As Mr Scicluna himself explained, there used to be only one person handling complaints, whilst as a regulator, the commission will now have three persons managing the task. The provisions of the recent Blue Badge legislation enacted by the government are meant to strengthen the necessary enforcement of established rules. I am indeed pleased that the resources we are investing in the Commission are yielding these very positive results.

‘Opera vs Pop under the Stars’

Following eight previous successful editions of Opera vs Pop under the Stars, The Gozo Youth Orchestra presented this year’s concert last Monday. The concert, under the baton of Mro Grech, featured various opera singers, including Gozitan soloists Noel Galea and Pamela Agius Cibrano, together with other local and guest singers and musicians. The first part of the programme offered classical and operatic arias, followed by an array of lighter pop arrangements from popular soundtracks and musicals.

I immediately thought that such an enjoyable opportunity deserved to be experienced by a wider audience. My Parliamentary Secretariat will, in fact, financially cover the cost of providing increased accessibility for people with disabilities at a repeat concert to be held on 9 September. Music and arts are humanity’s richest expression of culture, with Gozo having such a wealth with a myriad of artistic talents. It follows that we are duty-bound to grasp events like “Opera vs Pop” and offer an additional opportunity to people with disabilities.  

60+ photos competing on Facebook

Entries keep coming in on our Facebook page ‘Flimkien negħlbu s-sħana’ (together we overcome the heat), a campaign for older people who can best illustrate their way of combating the unbearable heat of summer. The campaign is in the form of a competition of photographs expressing the theme in the social media. 

With the increasing number of older people who have become familiar with technological gadgets, this is an opportunity for them to compete through their creative talents in posting the best photographs that depict the recommended precautionary measures to avoid complications resulting from sun exposure and dehydration. 

During the remaining five weeks they can seek the highest number of ‘likes’, and the winner will receive a tablet as the prize. Until 9 September, everyone aged 60+ can participate by accessing the specific page Flimkien negħlbu s-sħana on Facebook. It is meant to give older people an opportunity to show their artistic and technological skills and be creative in expressing their personal awareness of a healthy lifestyle.