Homes for the elderly will lose their licence if they fail to adhere to new standards, Parliamentary Secretary for Care of the Elderly Justyne Caruana said yesterday.

On a visit to the Mtarfa Home, Dr Caruana announced that the Attorney General was finalising a comprehensive law which would outline 39 minimum standards for centres.

The standards are split across seven core areas: basic home obligations (provision of information and contracts), health and personal care, daily life and social activities, complaints and protection, living environment, and requirements for the management and administration of homes.

Dr Caruana said the law would see a new and autonomous enforcement entity set up. This will be made up of experts in the field and will ensure that homes adhere to the minimum standards.

New homes, she said, would have to adhere to the standards immediately, whereas existing centres would be given a window, of up to 10 years, to come in line.

Those that do not come into line with the standards could face an administrative fine, a suspension of their licence or not have their licence renewed.

The standards follow a call earlier this year by the Foundation for Active Ageing, which spoke out about poor conditions which were being set in homes.

The issue was raised after the government terminated its contract with Casa Francesco due to “poor service”.

Dr Caruana described the standards as a first as these had never been set before.

“These never existed. So now for the first time, residents will be able to see what they are entitled to,” she said.

Dr Caruana said these provisions would be enforced for both State-run and private homes and inspections would begin once the law was enacted.

One of the most contentious standards will be the setting of minimum living space for elderly residents.

Each resident must be given 12 square metres for their individual room, while those in shared rooms should have a minimum of eight square metres per resident. Even the bed size will be set – 900mm wide.

Dr Caruana said there were some homes currently operating which did not adhere to this minimum area.

The standards, she said, followed a lengthy consultation period with stakeholders.

Other standards include the introduction of daily opportunity for physical exercise, nutritional screening and several provisions to protect residents’ privacy.