During a visit in the village of San Lawrenz in Gozo today, the Parliamentary Secretary for the Rights of Persons with Disability and Active Ageing Dr Justyne Caruana, announced a new pilot project of a 'Dementia Friendly Village' in San Lawrenz.

Justyne Caruana accompanied by the Mayor of San Lawrenz Noel Formosa and Councillors, said that the Parliamentary Secretariat will finance this project and the Local Council will work towards the village becoming dementia friendly, "and therefore we are for the first time, creating the concept of Dementia Friendly Communities," Dr Caruana said.

She described the locality of San Lawrenz as an ideal one to launch this concept and that it would act as a role model for other localities because of its small size, and due to the fact of the ageing population.

She also spoke on the importance of integration of the elderly in society, saying that the concept of Dementia Friendly Societies will be helping the elderly, even those with dementia, remain active in societies that are also suitable for them.

Through this project, the Parliamentary Secretary said that it will not only benefit elderly persons with dementia, but also their families and society as a whole, including children, because the project will include maintenance in the locality of San Lawrenz, such as the playing field to make it more accessible to children, and to people with disability or mobility problems.

She also spoke in the context of the Age Intergenerational Project, where different people, including elderly and children, participate in different activities together.

The Secretariat has signed an agreement with the San Lawrenz Local Council and Dr Caruana thanked the Mayor, Mr Noel Formosa for their cooperation and belief in this new 'Dementia Friendly Village' project.

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