Care Malta, Malta’s largest care provider for the elderly, is examining ways to integrate technology so that older people are able to live in the community for longer, chief executive Natalie Briffa Farrugia told The Sunday Times.

Under a long-term vision to evolve into a one-stop shop for elderly services, Care Malta is planning initiatives that go beyond the management of residential and nursing homes.

One is the introduction to the island of hand-held devices, similar to those in use in the US, which will allow elderly people to monitor different aspects of their health at home.

“The idea is to postpone the elderly’s entry into care as much as possible,” Ms Briffa Farrugia explained.

“People will be able to relay information relating to their blood pressure or cholesterol, for instance, to health providers and they will be contacted if there are concerns.

“The concept is similar to mobile text messaging. It will give people peace of mind – many people move into care simply because they are afraid of what might happen.”

Ms Briffa Farrugia stressed that an aging population will lead to a growth in dependency levels. Malta could not provide beds for all who requested one and initiatives which prolonged the elderly’s independence contributed to ensuring beds were allocated to priority applicants or patients.

Meanwhile, Care Malta was looking to fill the vacuum in rehabilitation caused by the closure of Zammit Clapp Hospital. Rehabilitation is currently being provided on a smaller scale at Karin Grech Hospital.

Ms Briffa Farrugia emphasised that immediate rehabilitation was imperative after the acute phase caused by injury, for example, if patients were to regain as much of their previous strength as possible and retain their ­autonomy.

She said the company would be willing to provide rehabilitation in partnership with the government.

Care Malta, which has recently rebranded to accentuate care as its core competence, runs seven facilities for the elderly. Homes in Żejtun, Cospicua and Mellieħa operate under varying partnerships with the government.

Casa Arkati in Mosta, Villa Messina in Rabat, and Roseville in Attard operate as nursing and care homes.

Prince of Wales in Sliema is an independent living apartment complex offering a range of services for residents.

Under its mission to promote active aging, Prince of Wales is holding its annual 60+ Fun Run next Sunday.

The facilities, all of which, except for Prince of Wales, are fully occupied, care for just under 900 residents with an average age of 78; around 12 per cent are fully dependent.

Care Malta has a total staff complement of 600.

Natalie Briffa Farrugia took over as chief executive of Care Malta a year ago after occupying the director of operations role for four years. Part of the Vassallo Builders Group of Companies, Care Malta opened its first facility, Casa Arkati, in 1994, and has since evolved into the sector’s leading organisation.

The eldest of group founder Nazzareno Vassallo’s five children, Ms Briffa Farrugia first graduated in psychology, then pursued postgraduate degrees in gerontology and education.

Rather than become involved in the business her father had earmarked for her, Ms Briffa ­Farrugia set out to fulfil her own dream of carrying out missionary work in the Third World first.

After two years in Guatemala, she moved to Ethiopia where she spent seven years working with the dying at homes run by the Sisters of Mother Teresa.

“I wanted to experience the world,” she recalled.

“I was also involved in education and the entire experience stole my heart. Five years ago we started a project in Bahir Dar in Ethiopia to build 55 homes for the very poor and single mothers. It is nearly finished and I will return to see it opened.

“Every experience formed the attitude I have to the care this company provides and the way it looks upon residents.”

Ms Briffa Farrugia is the first to acknowledge the dedication required in elderly care, particularly where high nursing care is involved. Care Malta’s backbone, she insisted, is a young management team and a mission to provide holistic care.

Care Malta has channelled significant investment into training. As the only provider of specialised dementia care, the company has embarked on a programme to train even non-care staff in dementia awareness.

“We are giving huge importance to the issues surrounding residents with dementia as the condition is on the rise,” Ms Briffa Farrugia said. “The non-care staff training was an elaborate project, particularly as there was some initial resistance.

“Some staff members were grateful for the programme afterwards and were fully prepared to embrace the residents’ needs.”

Care Malta has also trained 18 carers in dementia nursing under a programme in partnership with Scotland’s Stirling University.

Meanwhile, in October, Care Malta will begin a second two-year diploma in dementia health care in its guise as a City and Guilds Centre that is open to job-seekers and non-Care Malta staff. Ms Briffa Farrugia said the company’s ultimate objective was to have all staff certified.

But behind the qualifications and the self-regulation, Care Malta had a deep commitment to its clients, she stressed.

That commitment was illustrated on Women’s Day last Tuesday when Care Malta launched 100 Women, 100 Stories: A Journey Through Words.

The book is a collection of mini-biographies of Care Malta residents edited by Cospicua Home manager Janet Silvio.

The book, the fruit of a long-standing ambition of the chief executive and the management team, served to mark a century of Women’s Day.

But more importantly it give greater value to female residents’ past, their memories, and portray the reasons their most treasured possessions meant so much to them.

“It is important to tell these women’s stories,” Ms Briffa Farrugia smiled. “I truly believe that when a person dies, a story is lost.”