Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1259447
maltatoday | SUNDAY • 14 JUNE 2020 8 COVID-19 SPONSORED PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARIAT FOR ACTIVE AGEING AND PERSONS WITH DISABILITY C M Y CM MY CY CMY K Anzjani Advert.pdf 1 10/06/2020 14:17 Doing everying in our power to protect the most vulnerable during COVID-19 By Silvio Parnis Parliamenatry Secretary for Active Ageing and Persons with Disability ON 7 March, the first case of COVID-19 in our country was announced. In ad- dition to the contingency plans which were already in place, on that day we also announced the first measure aim- ing at protecting the elderly living in residential homes. In fact all those who were feeling unwell or had just travelled to the countries indicated by the Public Health Authority were instructed not to visit family members residing in resi- dential homes. Hand sanitizers in every entrance of these residential homes were also installed. Furthermore, visit- ing hours were restricted to the evening and afternoon and were limited to a maximum of two visitors for each resi- dent. At St Vincent De Paul residence, a monitoring system was put in place and all appointments to outpatient services were rescheduled. Three days later, on March 10, all visits were restricted to specific times during the day and a maximum of one visitor for each resident was allowed in. We also started encouraging older persons and vulnerable people to avoid going out of their homes as much as possible. On March 12, after consulting with the Public Health Authority, all visits in residential homes and in St Vincent De Paul were halted. Visits were only allowed in urgent cases. This measure was also valid for residential homes for persons with disability. On the March 13, in order to strength- en the essential services and to protect the workers in this sector, the elderly and persons with disability, the services offered by Active Ageing and Commu- nity Care and by Aġenzija Sapport were amended. On March 16 we then launched a helpline aimed at delivering medicines, prepared meals and groceries to people over 60 years of age without any sup- port. We also began ensuring that video calls, telephone calls, communication via social media or other forms of com- munication between residents and rel- atives were being made. Tablets were also distributed to government residen- tial homes. Aġenzija Sapport also launched a se- ries of workshops aimed especially at parents of persons with disability. During this pandemic we also had to find a way for relatives of elderly per- sons in residential homes to send them Mother's Day gifts. All residential homes including Saint Vincent De Paul residence in fact, gave the relatives per- mission to send gifts to the residents. One must also point out that during this process all the necessary precau- tions were taken. During these difficult times, myself and the CEOs responsible for residen- tial homes for elderly people and per- sons with disability, also visited the outer areas of several of these homes, including all residential homes which fall under the responsibility of Aġenzi- ja Sapport and all those elderly homes in which the workers were in lockdown with the residents. The aim of these visits was to convey a message of cour- age to the residents and to thank the workers for their dedication and hard work. This week the Government also announced that €2 million will be given to residential homes for older persons as recognition for their hard work. A few days ago, relatives were also allowed to start visiting the elderly re- siding in residential homes and in Saint Vincent De Paul behind a perspex or a glass barrier. In light of the present situation and after consulting with the Public Health Authority, from the 18th of July, with the help of several precautionary meas- ures, homes can allow relatives to visit without the use of perspex/glass barri- ers and from the 1st of July, older per- sons requesting to go out of the Home will be allowed to do so. These meas- ures currently apply for all residential homes excluding Saint Vincent De Paul Residence since it offers high depend- ency chronic care services. The new measures of St Vincent De Paul are still being discussed with the Public Health Authority. These drastic measures, which were taken in line with advice given by the Public Health Authority have led to the positive results that we have today. The aim of this Secretariat is and will re- main, to protect older persons and per- sons with disability and to ensure that the services offered to them continue to be strengthened. I therefore look for- ward to continuing working tirelessly in favor of the elderly and persons with disability. Silvio Parnis, Parliamentary Secretary for Active Ageing and Persons with Disability (left)