Government to open third night shelter

During the last four years the secretariat for the elderly and community care provided 630 beds for the elderly, 375 of which were provided by the private sector.

While visiting ongoing works at St. Vincent de Paul's Residence's Night Shelter, Parliamentary Secretary for the Elderly Mario Galea said government was working for both the elderly who needed long term care and for the elderly who can be independent within their community.

"This is the third night shelter that the Government will open," Galea said.

He added that there are several services offered by the Government to help the elderly to remain active within the community. 

"Night shelters are another way how our elderly people can remain active within the community without the need to join an institution that offers long term care," Galea said.  

Night shelters are the solution for those elderly people who perhaps are either afraid to be on their own during the night or who do not want to be alone at night.

"Night shelters are sheltered places where the client can sleep with his/her mind at rest," he said, adding that every room has a buzzer so that the resident can call for help.

The first night shelter for the elderly was opened in July 2010 in Zejtun. A second night shelter was then opened in Mellieha.

The St Vincent de Paul Residence's project will offer shelter to 11 elderly people (7 women and 4 men). Works on this project are being done by the Residence's staff and include a new plumbing system of plumbing, a new wiring system, a bathroom accessible to clients using wheel chair, a kitchen, a new water supply system and water tanks on the shelter's roof.

Those interested in the night shelter service can download an application form from https://ehealth.gov.mt/HealthPortal/elderly/nightshelter.aspx.