Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/767061
maltatoday, SATURDAY, 24 DECEMBER 2016 IV Retirement & Elderly Care THIS means that more people will need more support and care for longer periods. Along with rising life expectancy, we expect to live better for longer, and to remain in our own homes as long as possible. People move into a care home only when neces- sary, such as when their health diminishes or because of the onset of dementia. "The average age of residents in homes for the elderly is 83, which is 20 years past retirement age," said Natalie Briffa Farrugia, CEO of CareMalta Ltd. "We note that the age at which people enter residential care is rising too. In Roseville, for instance, the average age has moved up from 73 to 84 over a span of five years." CareMalta's vision is to promote person-centred care in our nursing homes, particularly as one third of residents are living with de- mentia. The shifting trends are plac- ing new pressures on the supply side of nursing care for the elderly, which CareMalta is geared up to meet. In 2013, a new national strategy was put in place. Government has set new minimum standards for homes for the elderly. All new homes will have to meet or beat those standards and, where neces- sary, existing homes will have to be upgraded to meet the new require- ments within a ten-year transition period. Government will also introduce a classification system for care homes, which Ms. Briffa Far- rugia said is very much required in this sector. CareMalta welcomes new and bet- ter regulation as it raises standards across the sector. "We embrace the new regulations holistically," Ms Briffa Farrugia said. "Our homes have always been self-regulated to a high standard. Our service is value based. We believe in earning and keeping a good reputation through setting high standards of service. People's expectations have been raised because of the standards we have set. Mrs. Briffa Farrugia reflects with pride at the successes that CareMal- ta has established over the past one, two and three years both as the first private operator in this sector and also as the pioneer in Public Private Partnerships. "We delivered quality because we didn't experiment," Ms Briffa Farrugia said. "We researched the field to understand best prac- tices before investing. Our homes were modelled on high international standards and our investment over the years is visible in the quality we deliver. We have set a high bar for the whole sector in Malta." Private sector provision offer the advantages of efficiency, sound management practices, being customer-focussed, and long term vision and planning, but sustain- ability is crucial. In care services, 70% of the costs are labour, so can the private sector play a bigger role in the social field? Ms Briffa Farrugia believes so, but says success depends on non-commercial criteria as much as on profit. "The success of a public private partnership cannot be determined on the basis of econom- ics alone," she said. "If you only look at profits, the partnership will fail. This is not a line of business that can be measured just in terms of cost-efficiency. You need to look at other criteria. CareMalta is diversifying by providing services such as respite services and residential services in the disability sector, through HILA – Home for Independence and Limitless Abilities. "The same concerns apply," Ms Briffa Farrugia said. "Operators cannot simply be profit-driven. We are a private company with a public conscience. With HILA we hope to set the same high standards we have established in the elderly care sector. This is another innovation we look forward to delivering." CareMalta – Leading with Care Villa Messina undergoing refurbishment works Malta's population is ageing and life expectancy is growing. The latest figures show that, on average, an 80-year old in Malta can expect to live for another nine years. In 2016, a quarter of the total population was over 60. By 2025, the baby boomer generation will be elderly Natalie Briffa Farrugia Demonstrating quality has never been as important as it is now. In a rapidly changing care environment that is moving from residential needs to a higher nursing care requirement, CareMalta is in the forefront to acknowledge this need and continue to be a leader with care AFTER 20 years of successful operation of Villa Messina, CareMalta has decided to do a total refurbishment project to this facility as part of our ambition to offer the best quality services to our older popula- tion. Preparations for the total revamp com- menced in May 2016 which led to the official announcement to all residents and families in June. The necessary plans were carried out to arrange for the temporary transfers to all the residents by end of Oc- tober 2016. On the 1st November 2016, the works for the refurbishment project began. At CareMalta we appreciate the impor- tance of the environment both from an accessible point of view and also from a visual perspective. The refurbishment project will upgrade all the present bed- rooms and bathrooms creating flexible options for accessibility in the bathrooms. The new design will incorporate dementia friendly measures while all beds will be upgraded to nursing beds encouraging further independence and comfort. Although we plan to retain the ambience and character of the original property, the new design is planned to create an envi- ronment where residents can enjoy a mod- ern feeling, built to high specifications, based on the experience that the company has in providing this care environment. The facility will also offer a new multi- purpose room, a new chapel and a well- ness centre in line with our active ageing philosophy. The new home will feature services to meet the needs of both residents and staff. Additional new lifts will be installed whilst the present lifts will also be enlarged. The new project will also incorporate all the necessary alignments required by the current new legislation also exceeding our client's expectations. Based on our promise to continue to pro- vide the best care to our residents the re- furbishment project will also incorporate new features which will help the operation offer the person-centred approach that we truly believe in. As a company, we look forward to April 2017 when we can open our doors for Villa Messina to become a home away from home both for the residents, their families and all of us who are here to serve them. Villa Messina is operated by Care- Malta Ltd, the leading healthcare pro- vider in Malta. CareMalta also oper- ates eight other homes across Malta: Casa Arkati(Mosta), Roseville(Attard), Casa San Paolo (St. Paul's Bay), Prince of Wales(Sliema) as well as Zejtun Home, Cospicua Home, Mellieha home and Zam- mit Clapp Hospital Residential Home (St. Julian's).