A survey among residents of homes for the elderly has shown that three quarters would not consider leaving their care home, but 15 per cent felt highly insecure there. 

Led by Prof Marvin Formosa, from the university’s Department of Gerontology, the research showed that two thirds of residents would definitely recommend their care home to others.

The study was carried out on the initiative of the Parliamentary Secretariat for Active Aging to be better able to assess the current situation and long-term challenges of the elderly.

The study’s results were announced today in the presence of care home residents and carers, some of whom shared their experience with the audience.

Giovanna Vassallo, who lives at the Mtarfa home, explained that although she lived quite independently, she needed to move into a care home following a knee operation. She commended the home’s cleanliness, and the staff’s dedication, noting however that the lack of personnel often saw the carers not being able to keep up with their workload.

She also commented that although the standard of the food served at the home had improved, it was not always good enough. Nonetheless, she enjoyed her time at the home, and would recommend it to others.

The food quality issue featured as well in the study, which was carried out in eight out of the 22 homes for the elderly in the community. Most of the respondents were aged between 80 and 89, were women, and did not receive secondary school education.

Some 15 per cent of respondents were highly unsatisfied, while another 17 per cent were not satisfied with the food served at the care home.

Prof Formosa noted that another issue to be taken into consideration was the complaint by around a fifth of respondents that the provision of water was not frequent.

The study also showed a fifth claiming they found money missing from their room. Meanwhile nearly all of them said they have never witnessed staff physically abusing residents in their care home, but around a quarter sometimes witnessed staff shouting at residents.

Prof Formosa called on stakeholders to avoid the “us and them” mentality in the sector, and instead pull the same rope. He noted that unfortunately, Malta lacked advocacy groups for the elderly, something that was quite common abroad.

Addressing the seminar, Parliamentary Secretary Anthony Decelis said that the two main ingredients for the government’s social policy within the sector were empowerment and a bottom-up approach where the service users’ feedback is taken on board.

He also insisted on the importance of such initiatives as today’s seminar, which allowed people to remain grounded and work for the necessary changes.

“Let’s celebrate the positive aspects, welcome feedback from those who live the daily reality and take action on criticism. The study will not be shelved, but the results will help us improve the existing structures.”

More beds at St Vincent de Paul Residence

St Vincent de Paul Residence’s chief executive Dr Josianne Cutajar spoke of an ongoing €7 million renovation of five wards, following a € 14 million refurbishment of another 11 wards.

Meanwhile, the residence is planning on increasing its bed space by another 500 by 2021, with the building of an extension, she said. This will mean a total of 1,700 beds at SVPR.

As part of its long-term plan, SVPR is planning on increasing to 28 per cent its current 10 per cent allocation of beds for people suffering dementia.

Some figures

30 per cent of the Maltese population is aged 60 and over

There are 2,200 beds in 22 care homes in the community (excluding SVPR)

Those aged 75+ will double to 57,000 by 2035