The government is exploring ways of expanding the Meals on Wheels Service since the number of elderly people on the waiting list is approaching the number of people who are actually receiving the service.
The Parliamentary Secretary for Care of the Elderly, Franco Mercieca, said this morning that the current service had reached its maximum capacity, with 300 meals distributed every day. There is a waiting list of 214.
Between January and September, the Maltese Cross Crops handed out 71,000 meals, prepared at the kitchen of St Vincent de Paul Home.
Dr Mercieca said various ways of expanding the service were being considered.
However he wanted to assure everyone that the service would not be reduced. Indeed, the aim was to improve its quality and make it more sustainable so as to enable the elderly to continue to live in their own homes.