Elderly request more personalised food to suit their needs

Residents at the Mtarfa home for the elderly meet prime minister and parliamentary secretary to discuss how services provided can be improved

Prime Minister Joseph Muscat and parliamentary secretary Justyne Caruana
Prime Minister Joseph Muscat and parliamentary secretary Justyne Caruana

Residents at the home for the elderly in Mtarfa praised the hard working staff and services provided but proposed more personalised food that caters for their individual needs.

Accompanied by parliamentary secretary for the elderly Justyne Caruana, Prime Minister Joseph Muscat held a consultation meeting with a number of residents, some of whom have been at the home for over eight years.

As Muscat and Caruana spoke of the increase in pensions, allowances for the elderly and a commitment to continue improving the quality of services offered to the residents, the elderly put forward their requests.

They praised the staff as making their utmost to address their needs, but also highlighted the need to have a larger variety of food suitable for their medical condition.

Refurbishment works at the Mtarfa home are underway.

Sitting around a table chatting with Muscat and Caruana, the elderly also recounted how activities organised – including fishing trips – kept them busy. A residents’ association was also set up, allowing the residents to have their say in the management of the home.

The consultation meeting continued in private.