New €9 million, 300-resident Fgura elderly home opened

A new €9 million home for the elderly, which will cater for 295 residents and provide 150 carers and medical professionals with jobs, was inaugurated today in Fgura.

The home, Residenza San Guzepp, has a special area within it to cater for residents suffering from dementia, a condition which affects around 4,500 people in Malta, with the numbers expected to double in the coming years.

Each bedroom at the home will house two patients, with an view to providing a strong element of privacy while encouraging social interaction.

Government committed to helping elderly

The government was working to address the new challenges brought about by an increasingly ageing population, Joseph Muscat said, highlighting that a strong and growing economy allowed it to invest in this sector.

Speaking at the inauguration, the Prime Minister said that Malta was now facing the phenomenon of a “sandwich generation” - people who are caring both for their young children and their elderly parents.

“We are now in the 20th place globally in terms of life expectancy. This means there are more challenges in terms of policies the government must draw up, and specialised services which have to be provided,” Muscat said.

“As a government, we encourage the elderly to, as much as possible, keep living in their own homes,” he said, underlining policies - such as the state paying for half the minimum wage for those who hire a helper - which facilitate this.

Muscat said the money for doing all this could either come through increased taxation, or though raising government income.

“We choose not to go for more taxes and instead boost our income. This is only possible if our economy keeps expanding,” he added.