CareMalta, which operates nine elderly care facilities and six homes serving the disability and mental health sectors through HILA, will adopt the new ethical guidelines for elderly care launched by the Church in Malta in April.

CareMalta Group announced this during a press conference held at Casa Arkati, Mosta, which was attended by Archbishop Charles Scicluna along with other representatives from the Archdiocese of Malta.

The aim of these guidelines is to promote the protection of life until its final moments and to emphasise the right to life.

In his address at the press conference, Archbishop Scicluna stated that the quality of a society depends on how sensitive it is to the needs of the elderly and the vulnerable. "I would like to thank CareMalta Group for this decision to offer not only care but also compassion - a service you provide to everyone, including vulnerable individuals. CareMalta Group has expanded its services and is now adding this ethical dimension, supported by an ethics board. You are therefore providing not only medical care but also a deep sense of respect and dignity. The choice to give space to human dignity until the final moments of life, and to avoid unnecessary therapeutic persistence, reflects a balance between faith, science, and humanity."

The Archbishop added: "Today, you are giving assurance and peace of mind to everyone who uses your services that they will be safe. I hope this choice you have made serves as an example to other institutions, NGOs, and companies."

Also speaking at the press conference were Prof. Emmanuel Agius, co-author of the document and bioethics expert; Prof. Charles Savona Ventura, Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology; Rev. Prof. Raymond Zammit, Head of the Department of Theology and Morality within the Faculty of Theology at the University of Malta; Natalie Briffa Farrugia, Chairperson of Vassallo Group; James Sciriha, CEO of CareMalta Group; and Noel Borg, Head of Operations at CareMalta Group.

As these guidelines specifically focus on elderly care and their dignity, CareMalta Group believes that dignity must take precedence. The document, titled Care for Elderly Persons in Church and Religious Residential Homes in Malta: Ethical Guidelines, looks not only at holistic care but also at the obligations and rights of employees as well as the responsibilities of the organization managing the elderly care facility.

While CareMalta Group embraces the values of quality, safety, integrity, and development, the dignity emphasized in these ethical guidelines complements all that CareMalta Group does, ensuring that vulnerability is addressed and that the elderly are not seen as a burden on society.

Ethics Committee for ethical guidelines

CareMalta Group has established an internal ethics committee to ensure that these ethical guidelines are fully implemented across all its facilities. Through this committee, CareMalta Group will also be able to discuss issues that may create complex situations in specific cases, potentially leading to the development of further ethical guidelines, subject to the committee's approval.

The committee within CareMalta Group will be composed of a number of professionals: Rev. Prof. Raymond Zammit, representing the Faculty of Theology at the University of Malta; Prof. Charles Savona Ventura, Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology; Noel Borg, Head of Operations at CareMalta Group, who also has a personal interest in ethics and is pursuing doctoral studies in the field; and James Sciriha, CEO of CareMalta Group. The committee will also consult with external experts as needed, depending on the case or field being addressed. These may include experts in geriatrics, psychiatry, and pediatrics, among others.