Gozo Age Concern has said it welcomes the announcement, by the Parliamentary Secretariat for the Elderly and Community Care, for the new specialized course for Care Assistants, but points out, that based on his own figures, there will be over 500 Gozitans denied a place in a care home by the year 2015.

Commenting on the announcement, Fr Mario Cassar, President of the Association said, “If the figures supplied by The Parliamentary Secretariat for the Elderly and Community Care, are re-calculated for Gozo only, it would mean that there will be over 7,000 people over 65 in Gozo by 2015.”

“It is also predicted that there will be over 5,000 people in residential care homes in Malta by 2015, 6.5% of the over 65’s. If this percentage is applied to Gozo it would result in almost 500 Gozitans needing the support of a care home in 6 years time.”

“More training of carers by the government is welcomed, but not all of the elderly are for various reasons, able to be looked after at home, otherwise, why are there so many homes in Malta?”

At present there are three homes in Gozo, run by religious communities, with a total of just 30 residents, and are only available to females. “The minister has stated that on completion of the course a certificate will be presented to each candidate making them eligible to work as care assistant in any of the local homes for the elderly,” “I would ask the minister, What care homes? There are ‘none’ in Gozo.”

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