Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/516462
maltatoday, SUNDAY, 24 MAY 2015 10 News TIM DIACONO AN NGO that represents elderly patients has launched a scathing attack on Malta's care homes for the elderly, arguing that some of them are run according to the logic of profit. "Anybody with a MEPA licence can set up a home, admit residents, make a profit and run it on a tight budget," a spokesperson for the Foundation of Active Ageing (FX- AM) who chose to remain anony- mous, told MaltaToday. "Some pri- vate homes charge their residents up to €75 a day and €1,700 a month for basic services only, without any frills, and yet we have seen elderly residents at these homes exposed to all sorts of abuses – from inade- quate carers to humiliation by get- ting forced into nappies, to living in rooms whose windows overlook pollutant streets." The spokesperson was speaking after the publication of a damn- ing report on care for the elderly, drawn up by the National Audit Office, in which it was revealed that minimum nursing and caring times in four private homes had fallen well short of contractual ob- ligations. On average, the elderly in homes in Zejtun, Mellieha, Roseville Home and Casa Leone had to be given, individually, a minimum of 132 minutes caring time on a daily basis, and 24 minutes nursing time daily. The Mellieha home was found to have given over 80 hours less car- ing time during three inspections in 2013 and 2014; the Zejtun home fell short by 178-202 hours; Rose- ville home fell short by some 40 hours; and Casa Leone fell short by 35 hours on average. The Mellieha, Zejtun and Ro- seville homes are all operated by Nazzareno Vassallo's CareMalta through public-private agreements with the government. "We have all the structures in place to ensure that the standard of care we provide is consistently of the highest level," CareMalta CEO Natalie Briffa Farrugia said. "Unfortunately, the levels of care required have increased dramati- cally over the years as government arrangements need to be regularly revised." Indeed, she said that CareMalta provides nursing services to the entire Zejtun home, when it is only contractually obliged to do so for the High Dependency Unit that was opened in 2013. Fears government could water down care standards for the eld- erly After the NAO's damning report, eyes now turn to the upcoming National Minimum Standards for homes for the elderly. Originally drafted by the FXAM upon the request of former social solidar- ity minister Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca, the proposals suggest that homes have to sign a legally-bind- ing contract with each of their residents, detailing the home's re- sponsibilities and the fees payable by the resident. Homes will have to employ pro- fessional staff who speak English or Maltese, provide residents with a varied programme of social ac- tivities, and ensure that meals are varied and drawn up by nutrition- ists. Within ten years, all homes and their grounds will have to be rendered fully accessible, comfort- able and homely. The parliamentary secretary for the elderly, Justyne Caruana, has said that the Bill is currently being drafted, but the FXAM fear it will be based on a watered-down ver- sion of their proposals. "Some homes are in a disgraceful state, and it is absolutely shock- ing that we don't have any legally- binding standards for them," the spokesperson said. "Our proposals were the absolute minimum and no group had objected to them during a six-month public consul- tation process." When questioned, Justyne Caru- ana's secretariat refused to disclose preliminary details about the final national standards that will be adopted in the Bill. The FXAM are also concerned at a second Bill, that has already been tabled in Parliament and that will see the Prime Ministerial appoint- ment of a Commissioner for the Elderly, who will advise the gov- ernment on rights for the elderly and investigate any breaches of the human rights of the elderly. "It seems as though the new standards will fall under this Com- missioner, meaning that the gov- ernment will be both regulator and enforcer," the FXAM spokesper- son said. The spokesperson also warned that, as it stands, the Commission- er will not be able to investigate conflicts between the elderly and their carers. "The Bill is simply political prop- aganda, window dressing with no substance," the spokesperson said. "It is an un-socialist, un-caring at- titude towards elderly people in their most vulnerable state." The government has denied that claim though, insisting that the na- tional standards will be enforced by a separate "legal entity". Foundation lambasts 'profit- seeking' homes for the elderly Some private homes charge up to €75 a day and €1,700 a month for basic services only, without any frills 'Some homes are in a disgraceful state, and it is absolutely shocking that we do not have any legally-binding standards for them' CareMalta CEO Natalie Briffa Farrugia