In one of his first communications the Parliamentary Secretary for Active Ageing shocked a number of elderly people and their families. Franco Mercieca said that to shorten the waiting lists a means test is being introduced. This will be the first time that this procedure is being adapted since the beginning of the Home Help, Meals on Wheels and other services.

Contrary to what Mr Mercieca is saying these services have been instrumental in giving a chance to a good number of elderly to remain in their homes. For many obvious reasons, some of them safety ones like preventing the elderly from using cooking appliances and exposing them to certain dangers, or not able to cook especially in the case of widowers, the Meals on Wheels service has proved to be a Godsend.

Others are not able to do any more house chores or even go to a pharmacy or other shops and through the good service of the Home Help these were being given a very good service. The Telecare system provides security to the elderly especially in cases where single persons live alone.

These services have encouraged a number of elderly to remain in the shelter of their homes without literally obliging them to abandon their homes. And this may apply more in the case where men lose their dear wives and are not able to prepare a meal or perform other house chores.

A number of families of elderly persons are also being hard hit. The Meals on Wheels service used to provide respite for these families by giving them the chance to have a day a week free of cooking for their dear ones and thus they will also have a break. Even when these families, a lot of them with children, go for a holiday they had their mind at rest that someone is providing a well prepared hot meal for their dear ones when they are enjoying their much merited rest.

And why should these services be controlled by a means test? This will encourage many to avoid saving when young or middle aged because the money saved will, when they grow old, be a hurdle because it will deprive them of certain services which should be freely available to all citizens. The Government has opted for the easiest way at the expense of many elderly instead of voting more funds for these services.

This has come as a big shock for many elderly at the very beginning of the new legislature.