Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1113313
maltatoday | SUNDAY • 5 MAY 2019 ELDERLY CARE S4 EVER since the launch of the National Active Ageing Strategy 2014 – 2020, there has been a paradigm shift in the perception of older persons and ageing in general. For numerous years, prior to 2013, ageing and services for the elderly had been considered as a part of the medical aspect. This brought about a culture whereby the elderly were con- sidered as needy and dependent on others. Surely, every person has their own needs, which differ from one in- dividual to another; yet, through this Strategy, the added value of older per- sons is recognised. The National Active Ageing Strategy 2014 – 2020 is based on three found- ing principles: active participation in employment, social engagement and independent living. Employment is a key aspect of an in- dividual's well-being. Many a times, elderly persons who reach retire- ment age, end up suffering from men- tal health issues, such as depression, when they are forced to quit their jobs. Through various initiatives, this Gov- ernment has made it possible for the elderly to continue working, address- ing both the private and public sectors. While such measures have great psy- cho-social benefits for the individual and their families, such contribution also brings about economic benefits. Moreover, older persons living in the community engage in a variety of so- cial activities. They might attend Mass, imbibe coffee or tea from the local snack bar, have a chat with their neigh- bours, and catch up with their nieces and nephews after school hours. Many even participate in more organised ac- tivities, such as arts and crafts, exercise classes, or volunteering. Such engagement enables older indi- viduals to feel included and valuable, further embracing a positive well-be- ing. In fact, research shows that a pre- requisite for active and successful age- ing is having a supportive environment endowed with positive social relation- ships, communal involvement and so- cial inclusion. Moreover, when seniors are living within the community, they tend to spend more time with people from younger generations. This enables them to participate in intergeneration- al activities, possibly allowing for tradi- tions to transmit from one generation to the next, and thus, fostering inter- generational solidarity. Considering the above mentioned benefits, this Government is commit- ted to provide services that address the challenges that older adults face when living in the community, thus promoting independent living. In the past four years, we saw an increase in pensions. This increase allows for the elderly persons to have more cash in their pockets and being able to sustain themselves better. However, this Government also rec- ognises the importance of providing good quality services which support the elderly living in the community, which services are provided by the Depart- ment of Active Ageing and Commu- nity Care, Services vary from providing daily support, household maintenance, recreations to professional therapy. To name a few schemes, the Department of Active Ageing and Community Care provides handyman services, meals- on-wheels, home help, and occupa- tional and physiological therapy. Moreover, active ageing is encour- aged through the ample initiatives undertaken by the Parliamentary Sec- retariat for Persons with Disability and Active Ageing, such as the intro- duction of Silver T, the promotion of elderly's engagement in Maltese lit- erature, as well as the training of staff members in residential homes to en- able the organisation of various social and leisure activities. Additionally, the 28 active ageing cen- tres, characterised with fully-fletched programmes, around Malta and Gozo, ensure that our older adults participate in a diversity of activities and events. Recently, we have also seen the inau- guration of Silver Hub, an active ageing centre for persons with high levels of de- pendency residing in St Vincent de Paul. This, apart from the various activities organised and initiatives undertaken, that further encourage the participa- tion of older persons within residential homes, such as Making Homes Fun. Through this project, staff employed in such residential homes were given appropriate training, which will enable them to organise social and education- al activities for residents in the respec- tive homes. All this goes to show that even with- in residential homes for the elderly, active ageing is a guiding principle, which gives elderly care the holistic approach that it deserves. This sector is only one of the many sectors where this Government has de- livered, and brought about social jus- tice and inclusion. Without any doubt, what has been written in the National Active Ageing Strategy has been guid- ing the work of the Parliamentary Secretariat for Persons with Disability and Active Ageing, and thus has been transposed into concrete measures and initiatives that truly leave a posi- tive impact on the life of our older gen- eration. A strategy towards active ageing