As the government boasts of its efforts to raise the standard of services for the elderly in hospitals and homes, in many cases the situation on the ground is pathetic and deplorable.

A correspondent writing on the horrors of ageing in this newspaper a few days ago, Anne McKenna, touched a raw nerve when she reviewed the trauma that both the elderly and their relatives go through over the treatment carers provide in homes.

Times of Malta brought the subject up only a few months ago, when there was talk of plans to draw up minimum standards that would apply to all government, Church and private homes. The Parliamentary Secretary for Active Ageing, Justyne Caruana, was reported saying at the time that when these standards are in place, a regulatory body will be set up.

The general opinion has been strongly against the proliferation of quangos but this is certainly one area where a regulatory body is urgently needed to help bring about a drastic change for the better in the way care of residents in homes is run today.

Away from the political rhetoric and marketing talk, there lies a problem that many times breaks the hearts of residents’ relatives.

It essentially boils down to the undignified manner in which carers treat residents.

Of course, this may not apply to all situations in public and private homes. Also, in a number of cases carers think they are giving the best possible service when they over-shower residents with endearments. In doing this, however, they are often enough stripping them of their dignity.

Clearly, some carers, including those in private homes, have little idea as to what professional caring standards mean, which is why there is an urgent need for minimum standards to be drawn up. Most people refrain from complaining about the service for fear that this could have a rebounding effect on them. The problem is an elephant in the room that few dare face.

It is therefore all the more important that minimum standards are drawn up and that a regulatory body is set up without further delay. As much will depend on the effectiveness of this body for an improvement of the situation, it is important that only people who are determined to get to the bottom of the problem are appointed on its board.

This is an age-old problem thathas simply defied solution, at least up now. Ms McKenna, who is a member of the Foundation for Active Ageing, believes that if the national minimum standards for care homes which they had drafted were to be statutorily and legally enforced by an independent regulator, situations like the one she described would not be permissible.

There are 37 government, Church and private care homes today, looking after more than 4,000 elderly people. Since the population is ageing, the number of residents in homes is likely to increase steadily over the years.

One very important standard the foundation has proposed calls on the licensee to commit to meeting the needs of all residents at all times by employing sufficient staff with the necessary skills and experience to deliver all the services required and provide all basic equipment required by residents. In its view, this is achievable within six months.

A steady improvement can only be brought about if care homes are adequately staffed and equipped, if the carers are professionally trained in their job and if they are justly remunerated.