Day centres for the elderly are becoming increasingly popular.
About 1,250 elderly persons are attending 14 day centres on a daily basis, according to Helen D'Amato, the Parliamentary Secretary for the Care of the Elderly and Community Care.
Day centres in Malta are situated in Zejtun, Hamrun, Qormi, Dingli, Sliema, Zurrieq, Mtarfa, Birkirkara, Cospicua, St Paul's Bay, Birzebbuga, Mosta, Luqa and Sta Venera.
Speaking during a seminar organised at the Caring Awareness Fair being held this weekend at the Naxxar Trade Fair grounds, Ms D'Amato said the elderly were an asset and not a liability to society.
"This is why the elderly deserve the best quality of life," she said. "They form an integral part of society - 18.4 per cent of the total population. This percentage is shooting up as the population world-wide is aging fast and the number of elderly people is increasing at an alarming rate. In fact, this century is being referred to as 'the century of the elderly'."
This, she said, was the greatest challenge society was facing today - one which brought with it economic and social repercussions. The government was in duty bound to ensure society was prepared for all the stages of life and last but not least for the final stage, old age.
"We need to establish measures for the elderly to help them remain healthy and as active as possible. We need policies and initiatives for the elderly which ensure that no one is emarginated from society."
The government was determined to help the elderly continue living in their own environment, preferably at home. "We want to help those who have no one left to care for them and also help those families helping their relatives - the caregivers."
Over the years a number of services for the elderly had been introduced by the government, she said, among them Home Help, Meals on Wheels, Telecare and the incontinence service.
Ms D'Amato appealed to the public attending the fair to be more conscientious about voluntary work and services offered to the Maltese. "We must all work towards creating an inclusive society," she said.