The agreement between the Victim Support Agency and the Active Ageing and Community Care entity has been renewed, benefiting elderly individuals who fall victim to criminal acts.

In a statement Thursday, the Home Affairs Ministry and the Parliamentary Secretariat for Active Ageing said that over the past three years, the collaboration between the two agencies has contributed to greater awareness of victims’ rights, while also promoting a holistic approach to ensure that elderly people are heard and receive quality services.

Through this renewed agreement, both entities will continue strengthening prevention and education among the elderly with dedicated sessions on how to avoid becoming victims of crime, how to recognise signs of abuse, and what steps to take if they are targeted.

The agreement will also aim to reach more elderly individuals within the community, especially those who live alone or may be isolated, so that no one is left out of this support and assistance network.

The agreement was signed in the presence of Home Affairs Minister Byron Camilleri and Parliamentary Secretary for Active Ageing Malcolm Paul Agius Galea.

“The suffering experienced by elderly individuals who fall victim to crime is considered to be twice as severe as that of younger victims. In particular, physical trauma and mental health issues require longer recovery periods, and financial loss is felt more acutely due to limited income,” the statement said.

It said that the trauma experienced by elderly victims often leads to fear, loss of trust in authorities, and reduced mobility.

This agreement brings together both victim support services and access to community care, the statement said.

Camilleri said that, in recent years, his ministry has shifted toward offering more services for victims through various measures and initiatives, including the establishment of the Victim Support Agency, which in a few years has provided services to over 4,000 victims of crime.

Through this agreement, the agency is also reaching the important demographic of the elderly to ensure that they, too, receive assistance.

"We understand that elderly individuals may face a double vulnerability when it comes to crime,” he said.

Agius Galea said that this renewed agreement not only strengthens services for elderly victims of crime but clearly demonstrates government’s commitment that no elderly person should be left alone or without help.

“Through better education, prevention, and cooperation between entities, we can build a safer and more compassionate community for those who are most vulnerable,” Agius Galea said.

CEO of the Victim Support Agency Brian Farrugia said that the renewal of this agreement symbolises a collective commitment to and action in favour of the elderly in Malta, especially those who have in some way fallen victim to crime.

CEO of Active Ageing and Community Care Renzo DeGabriele spoke of the importance of a system that leaves no one behind.

“Elderly people who find themselves victims should have the same access to support and care as anyone else,” DeGabriele said.