First active ageing centre opened in Birgu

An active ageing centre will soon be open in Birgu following an agreement signed between the government and the Birgu local council.

The centre, which is to open at the Auberge d'Angleterre, will offer life-long learning services and a gym. Medical services currently being offered at the Auberge will be retained.

Describing the opening of the centre as the flagship initiative of the national active ageing strategy, parliamentary secretary for the elderly Justyne Caruana said works on the centre should be completed by mid-2015.

"This is the first such centre to be opened in Malta. Works will now start to equip the centre and make it accessible to the elderly. During Budget 2014, government committed itself to open two day care centres for the elderly," Caruana said.

A few days ago, the parliamentary secretary inaugurated the opening of a day care centre in Gzira. The two centres cost €70,000, a sum that was allocated in the budget.

Caruana said it was important for local councils to take an active role in community services offered to the elderly.

Birgu mayor John Boxall said such a centre was most welcome by the elderly community. He explained that with an increasing ageing population in the locality, such projects would allow persons who lived all their life in one locality to remain close to their community.