Elderly to have first night shelter

Elderly people who were considering going into a home because they are uncomfortable being alone at night might soon consider a night shelter being constructed in Żejtun instead.

"We see many elderly people who are still independent and able to live on their own, but do not want to be alone at night," Community Care Parliamentary Secretary Mario Galea said yesterday.

He said the shelter will allow elderly people to have a place where to go in the evening and to spend the night.

"They can spend some time together, maybe watch TV, and then everyone will have his own cubicle to sleep in," he said, adding that night shelters could reduce the number of applications for places in homes for the elderly while giving pensioners a safe place where to sleep while continuing to live in their communities.

The €93,000 shelter is being built within the Jesus of Nazareth Convent and will be run by nuns with the government's assistance. Mr Galea said this was an example of how the Church and the state could work together for the benefit of the elderly. The shelter, which is expected to be finished soon, will include a dining room, sitting room, bedrooms and a lift.

A call for applications for those wishing to use the first night shelter for the elderly will be issued in the coming weeks. He said the secretariat would monitor interest in this shelter before proceeding to open new ones.