Points from a speech delivered by the Minister for Health, Care of the Elderly and Family Affairs, Dr. Michael Farrugia at the Opening Session of the First International Short Term Course for Physical and Occupational Therapists in the field of the Ageing

• In Malta we have an ongoing education in most fields for professionals on various aspects of care of older persons.
• • Malta has a strong history in the field of the ageing and a long tradition of care 'The hospital of the Mediterranean."
• • Despite our small size of the island and population, we have established professional training in local physical and occupational therapy.
• • We are self sufficient when it comes to trained personnel dealing with training of students.
• • We have therapy for elderly persons in diverse settings:
• • Zammit Clapp Hospital -
• • St. Vincent de Paule Residence -
• • St. Luke's Hospital - General Acute Hospital -
• • Acute Psychiatric Hospital
• • Boffa Hospital
• • So far therapy has been confined to day care eg. Zammit Clapp Hospital and St. Luke's Hospital and private therapy practise.
• • Depending on the man power available we can look to future expansion of therapy services into the community.
• • The therapists can be involved in the assessment, preventive and rehabilitative practise along with the remainder of the inter disciplinary team.
• • We are working so that as much as possible elderly patients continue to live in their own home.
• • We are facing an ageing population - 25% of elderly persons by the year 2020. - Hence the importance of therapy in preventing problems, restoring function and mobility and generally contributing to sustain older persons to live in their own homes.
• • In Malta, health care is offered free of charge by the state, but there is room for the private sector. We have 3 private hospitals and some other private clinics.
• • Sincere wishes of fruitful discussions and highly interactive sessions which appear to characterise this course. Hope that experience of coming days will sustain participants in the years to come with older persons in years to come.
• • The course was attended by 22 therapists from 15 countries. INIA director Dr. George Hyzler described the contribution to holistic care which these professionals provide in conjunction with the interdisciplinary team. The course is being co-ordinated by Dr. Julian Mamo, deputy director of the International Institute on Ageing.

- We host UN International Institute on Ageing;

- Participates locally and international in the field;

4,050 residents - gives all the care and therapy possible;