Cospicua elderly home residents are in tears over eviction plans, with the government announcing last Saturday that there are plans to move the elderly people to other homes as it intends to conduct works in the building.

Kitchen worker Christine Agius yesterday described the atmosphere at the home as a “second family”.

The jovial and happy atmosphere that was present in the home ended abruptly on Saturday when the government’s plans became public.

Since then, each time the subject comes up or any of the workers enters one of the rooms, the elderly people who reside there end up crying.

On Monday in parliament, PN MP Paula Mifsud Bonnici said that the elderly residents were given notice via a letter dated 29 May 2023, and were told that they have to fill in an application and choose their new home by selecting their top three preferred government elderly homes.

 “They (the residents) are from Cospicua; here they can go for a walk or even to the open market as it’s near,” Agius said.

Although not listed on the letter, for reasons unknown, the deadline for the decision of the relocation has been verbally communicated to the elderly residents, Mifsud Bonnici said. She said that they have until Wednesday (today) to make their preferences known.

Mifsud Bonnici asked the Minister for Active Aging Jo Etienne Abela why there was such a rush, given that there hasn’t been a planning application filed or permit acquired, or tender awarded for the demolition of the building.

Mifsud Bonnici also said in parliament that the home is in an Urban Conservation Area, meaning that any potential developments are restricted.

In response to a Parliamentary Question on Tuesday posed by Mifsud Bonnici, Active Ageing Jo Etienne Abela revealed that between 2021 and 2023 nearly €640,000 was invested in the home. He said that the investments will be kept when the home is refurbished to reach the necessary standards.

The residents have made it clear that they do not want to leave. When they spoke to Net News, many of them said that they were brought up in Cottonera and want to spend their last days there. They do not want to move elsewhere, and on Monday “protested” by gathering in front of the home to express their dismay at the government’s decision.

In comments to The Malta Independent, Agius said that the company, Care Malta, which is in charge of the administration of the home, informed all the workers about the situation just last week.

“The company told us that the home is going to be demolished and that it is going to stop operating; they are also trying to find us a job in another residential home” she said.

Agius said that she has personally contacted the ministry for active aging, and she was informed that there is no definite indication that the home is going to be demolished.

Asked what would be the best solution from the ministry’s side to solve the issue, she said that there are empty floors and thus every floor can be refurbished without creating inconvenience to the residents. “They haven’t brought any newcomers in a while,” she said.

A relative of a resident said that his wife’s sister is happy where she is.

“She grew accustomed and needs nothing more,” he said.

He said that she felt extremely uncomfortable with the news as even other relatives live close by and come and visit her very frequently.