The €100 vouchers that were promised by the government for elderly residing in state-owned homes have not been distributed yet, the National Association for Pensioners (NAP) explained in a list of recommendations for the government to implement. This includes making these vouchers available to be used for the purchase of medical supplies by elderly patients.

“There needs to be acknowledgement of the trauma that the elderly have gone through during the COVID-19 pandemic as well as both the physical and mental strains they experienced, and are still experiencing, due to the restrictions that have been imposed on them. Experts have expressed the need for action to be taken in this regard,” NAP’s statement read.

In addition to this, the Agency made a list of a number of recommendations that the government should implement in order to help the elderly during these challenging times.

The first recommendation involved the €100 vouchers promised by to elderly residing in state-owned home which NAP said have still not been distributed to the patients.

“Seeing that the new restrictions do not allow for patients to go out once again, the Union is calling for the government to allow patients to use these vouchers for medical purchases and for them to remain valid till December 2020.”

In addition to this, NAP would like to see the National Minimum Pension (PMN) increased to a degree where people are not at risk of poverty as it is a well-known fact that the EU emphasises that where the income of a person is below 60% of the equivalent medium income, the person is considered as being at risk of poverty – “the PMN must be a safety net for pensioners.

It said that the size of the person’s family must be considered when calculating the amount of the PMN (as is the case for Social Assistance) and that the PMN should also not be tied with the National Minimum Wage as this is too low for a worker and his family to live comfortably.

The recurring issue of the Service Pension should also be addressed by having the temporary measure of reducing €200 a year from the commuted amount raised to €500.

“The rights of the elderly must also be strengthened so as to fight ageing by creating more business and work opportunities for the elderly as they have the right to apply for jobs despite their age,” NAP said. “They should be able to keep up an active lifestyle even by pursing an education after they stop working.”

Married women with children returning to work should not experience any discrimination with regards to benefitting from all conditions that other women who continued working have (being given credits for all their children including those who were born before 1952) while also being allowed to have breast screening which is not the case at the moment.

Caretaking services would also be more affordable so that patients can get the best quality of care available.

Pension rates should be calculated according to the contribution they would have given through their work throughout the year.

Public transport should be completely free for those above the age of 60 and a lift should be installed to be used by those who have mobility difficulties.

Pensioners coming from State institutions should receive the same tax concessions as those in private institutions.

The Social Security Department to be given all the resources and measures needs for the re-assessment of pensions on a yearly basis as required by law.

The challenges that elderly face at home must also be addressed so that when they require any form of service, such as the use of the bank from home and other digital procedures, they can do so without experiencing more difficulties.

The number of reported abuse of carers on patients needs to be tackled too, considering the fragility of the persons in question.

Finally, NAP called for the Bonds 62+ Scheme that the government announced for the elderly should have a maturity rate of four years with favourable interest rates and without tax.