When still a toddler, my aunt Stella used to invite me to go and visit Marietta at the Little Sisters of the Poor in Hamrun. Marietta was no relative, just a poor, very old woman who had no family and had found refuge with the sisters. I cannot say that the prospect delighted me. I preferred to play in the garden or read.

In addition, initially, I felt ill at ease with this dear granny who was not the most communicative. But Aunt Stella persisted. The unease and discomfiture subsided. I started relating to Marietta and missed her when she was no more. Certainly, her eyes used to light up when she saw my aunt, with me tagging along, approaching her.

At the time, the old residents certainly seemed very well taken care of and happy. The ambience, with the well-kept yards and patches of soil, seemed most welcoming. The Little Sisters of the Poor were held in almost mystical respect. It is no surprise, therefore, that the toddler I was then was fascinated by them. Over the years, I was to realise that this respect was earned through hard, selfless work dedicated to the needy and old.

The Little Sisters of the Poor were founded by Jeanne Jugan in France in 1839. They originally came to Malta in 1878 from France. Their first convent and home were in Pietà. In recent years, I have had the privilege of a much closer association with this cohort who selflessly serve Christ by serving the old and needy.

With the help of the likes of my friends Dr Antoine Mifsud Bonnici, Dr Dino Vella Briffa, Dr Michael Azzopardi, Dr David Cassar and others, we try to continue streamlining the healthcare of the residents. Given the age groups (70s, 80s and 90s), medical needs are significant. Simplifying and calibrating medication, promoting occupational therapy and otherwise stimulating them, are some of our priorities.

If one sees Christ in the elderly, one naturally tries to give them the best that one can. One does not aim at luxuries, but rather simple, dignified accommodation and care. The nuns felt that it was inappropriate for citizens who have served society for many years, to suddenly have to share bedrooms in their needy last few years.

They therefore decided that the old in Malta must be treated and cared for as they are in other western European countries, starting by at least having individual bedrooms and services.

However, the old building, could not be sensibly altered to achieve these ends. With courage, they decided to preserve the old Villa Blacas, built by a knight and for some years inhabited by a knight of that name, but to rebuild the more modern parts of the residence.

The Maltese have always been generous to these selfless nuns but, despite their help, the Little Sisters of the Poor have needed to borrow Lm2 million from their mother house in Saint Pern in France.

The government had conceded that the building work would be VAT-exempt but because of building delays exceeding the original time limit, this had to be laboriously renegotiated. I am pleased to say that this exemption has been confirmed. Costs mounted further however and the Little Sisters of the Poor have had to take a further Lm1 million bank loan, guaranteed by the mother house, for the work to continue.

We are now seeing good progress. However, there is still much to be done. When fully operational, this home should accommodate 75 to 80 residents. In addition, 13 small, self-contained flatlets for sheltered accommodation, connected to the residence but independent at will, are progressing well. The restoration and equipping of Villa Blacas for medical purpose, rehabilitation and social activities, still has to be started because of the severe financial constraints.

In addition, what with maintenance of the buildings and furnishings, and with providing quality care for the residents, the recurrent costs are very high. To supplement the income generated for these recurrent expenditures by the contributions from the pensions of the residents, the nuns go out collecting donations every day and fundraising activities are organised by the friends of the Home. But balancing accounts is virtually impossible and a source of constant concern.

Following the example of their foundress, the Blessed Jeanne Jugan, the nuns count unconditionally on Divine Providence through the constant intercession of St Joseph, to whom they confide their daily needs. But we all realise that the Divine must work through the generosity of human donors.

The desire of the Little Sisters is to continue in the spirit of their foundress to cater for old people with low income. The dignity of the human person does not depend on her/his possessions and those who cannot afford private care in their old age surely have a right to be treated with the same love and dignity as those who can.

I hope this short commentary will stimulate those who can, to be financially generous with the residents of the Little Sisters of the Poor. Equally important, I pray that this motivates readers at a loss as to how best to use their time to consider contacting the Little Sisters of the Poor and offer their help. Adopting a grandfather or mother is very rewarding.

Stimulating the elderly residents to increased intellectual and physical activity is the best therapy, both for the old residents themselves and for the generous citizens who make an effort to help them in this way. Organisations like the Scouts, Girl Guides, sporting groups, sewing and reading circles, do think about it.

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