To mark World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, Justyne Caruana, Parliamentary Secretary for Rights of Persons with Disability and Active Ageing, and Police Commissioner Michael Cassar paid a courtesy visit to the International Institute on Ageing, UN-Malta.

Director Marvin Formosa spoke about the institute’s mandate and vision. Discussions evolved on how entities were to collaborate, with the aim of raising further awareness on elder abuse. Cassar was accompanied by vice squad inspectors Sylvana Briffa and Joseph Busuttil.

World Elder Abuse Awareness Day draws attention to the problems of physical, emotional and financial abuse of older people, as well as to the distress caused through physical, emotional and social neglect.

Malta is undergoing significant demographic changes. Estimates indicate that the 65-plus, who amount to around 16 per cent of the population, will exceed the 20 per cent-mark by 2020 and approach 25 per cent by 2030. This accelerating rate of population ageing has led to various government initiatives to meet the needs of senior citizens, including protection from elder abuse.

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