Parliamentary Secretary for the Care of the Elderly Antoine Mifsud Bonnici on Friday inaugurated an extension to Villa Messina, the private old people's home in Rabat.

With this new extension, the home has an additional 14 residential rooms, an activity room and an open terrace.

The inauguration ceremony also saw the official launch of the new corporate name for the company that operates the home - CareMalta.

The inauguration was held in conjunction with celebrations marking Villa Messina's sixth anniversary and forms part of the plans that the company has to continue to expand.

This turnkey project at Villa Messina was entrusted to Vassallo Builders Ltd and was completed in the record time of two and a half months, with the least inconvenience to residents.

CareMalta chairman Nazzareno Vassallo said the expansion programme of the company was now well under way as both extensions to Casa Arkati and Villa Messina were now successfully completed on time and within the budget.

Mr Vassallo also highlighted the fact that the company was now half way through the expansion programme, which will see the company's operational base double over the next three years. CareMalta already employs over 300 persons.

Ing. Alexander Tranter, chief executive officer of CareMalta, said that the increased number of beds would continue to ensure that CareMalta remains the largest private organisation in Malta that offers individualised care in purpose-built homes for the elderly.

Ing. Tranter added that CareMalta has over the years experienced increased collaboration with the public sector.

CareMalta has been established since 1992 and operates four old people's homes in Malta - Casa Arkati in Mosta, Villa Messina in Rabat and the Zejtun and Cospicua government homes.