[WATCH] Government pushing for higher quality and standards in private care homes

Government pushing for higher quality and standards in private care homes • Video by Ray Attard

The government is pushing for higher standards in both public and private elderly care homes said Parliamentary Secretary for the elderly Justyne Caruana.

Addressing the press at the launch of a Bocci Club at Casa Arkati in Mosta, Caruana explained that the government was working on optimising services at private care homes aside from the upgrades currently taking place in public care homes around the island.

“The government is trying to promote new concepts and attitudes in Active Ageing with the private care homes it has formed an agreement with,” she said explaining the emphasis on high food, care and environment standards.

Caruana said that at the facilities where the elderly signed contracts that stipulated the provision of certain services, people needed to be made aware of exactly what they were signing for.

“The government is looking forward to the creation of a National Enforcing Authority to safeguard and oversee the respect for national minimum standards,” Caruana said.

“This authority will be available for residents in private and public care homes alike,” she said stressing the need for those who felt they were getting inadequate services to speak up.

Caruana also looked forward to the draft legislation that had just been put into place for the creation of a Commissioner for the elderly.

“Such a post would be able to ensure that the elderly get the care they require and deserve,” she added.

During her visit of the care home amd the newly launched Bocci pitch, Caruana expressed her joy and gratitude at seeing the active ageing strategy in practise.

“The idea for this pitch came from residents themselves,” Casa Arkati manager Carl Caruana said, explaining that the project had already garnered much interest and enthusiasm.

The Parliamentary Secretary explained that this showed how active citizenship was still very possible regardless of whether or not someone was in a care home.

“Residents are looking at care homes as a home away from home,” she said, stressing the way that the government had managed to promote an impetus towards better quality of services and the introduction of new services both in public and private homes.

Caruana also referred to the maintenance programmes currently underway at all the public care homes around the island.

“The changes include upgrades of the furnishings and even environment of all the care homes. The programme at St. Vicent De Paul is even more far-reaching,” she said explaining that the rebranding project at the facility was looking both at a change in the reputation and cares offered at the facility.

“We are also increasing the medical facilities being offered at the care home,” she said referring to the recently opened Dentistry clinic offered at the facility. “We are also looking forward to the launch of a pacemaker clinic at the same facility.”

Caruana pointed out that new practices  in standards of procedure were also being introduced to ensure a better running of the facility.