Plans to extend telecare service

The parliamentary secretary at the Social Policy Ministry, Francis Agius, yesterday called on banks to come up with more user-friendly services for the elderly.

Speaking at a news conference, Dr Agius expressed concern at the number of thefts involving the elderly and appealed to them to put their money and valuables in banks.

He also urged local councils to organise neighbourhood watch schemes to deter criminals.

Dr Agius suggested that the elderly subscribe to the telecare system, which offered them security and was a very effective deterrent against crime. Subscribers to the system wear a pendant 24 hours a day which is capable of connecting them to a centre. When activated, personnel at the centre immediately notifies a person nominated by the elderly person.

The secretariat, Dr Agius said, was in preliminary discussions on "add ons" to the telecare service which would be available to those who requested them at a cost.

These services could include the surveillance of various sections of one's home and a warning if a senior citizen did not leave a particular room over a period of time.

Such services would not be available just for the elderly but to any subscriber.

Unfortunately, Dr Agius said, there were only 8,242 senior citizens, or 11 per cent, who were subscribers to the telecare system.