Services for the elderly temporarily reduced as precaution against Coronavirus spread

As a result of the current situation, the Active Ageing and Community Care department has made several temporary amendments to its services, saying that these are necessary for the safeguarding of the elderly and of employees.

In a statement issued on Friday, the Ministry for the Family, Children’s Rights, and Social Solidarity along with the Parliamentary Secretariat for Active Ageing and Persons with Disability announced that several services will temporarily be restricted to urgent and essential cases.

The Home Help will be amended, with helpers now buying only food and medicine for the elderly. Other services, such as small household chores will temporarily be stopped. This way, those who live alone will be able to receive these essential items anyway.

The CommCare, Dementia Intervention Team, Allied Health Services, Social Work Service, and Respite services in old people’s homes will only be given in cases which are deemed to be urgent and essential.

Telecare, Continence, Respite in private homes, and Meals on Wheels services will continue to function as normal.

The Elderly Services Centre will continue to function as a service for customer care, with a procedure being put in place for the screening of visitors. All those who wish to contact the centre can phone on 22788800.

Services which are not considered to be essential, such as the service of a handyman, the Silver T Tuk Tuk service, and night shelters will also be temporary stopped.

For services offered by the Active Ageing and Community Care department one can phone 159.

Agenzija Sapport will also be making several amendments. Major services offered to persons with a disability – meaning support workers in community services, occupational therapy, and social work – will only be given in cases deemed to be urgent and essential.

All those who require services from Agenzija Sapport can phone on 22568000 or send an email on sapport@gov.mt.

“Everyone is asked to understand that in this time there is the need to take all the necessary measures to safeguard the elderly and vulnerable persons. These decisions, like others which the government is taking in this period, are being taken for the our own good and for the good of our loved ones,” the statement read.