Study on Gozo`s elderly women

Gozo Minister Giovanna Debono yesterday announced the conclusion of a study on the profile of elderly women in Gozo.

It is the first study of its kind to be carried out in the Maltese islands.

The Department of Gerontology at the University of Malta, together with the Department of Customer Services, Elderly Section, in the Ministry for Gozo launched the study in 2000.

Mrs Debono said the research provided a clear snapshot of the social, economic and psychological situation of older women in Gozo.

The study will serve as a basis for local and national authorities to strengthen and better plan their policies in the field of aging both in the short- and long-term.

She said the study was only one of the initiatives that the Ministry for Gozo had taken in favour of the elderly.

She also referred to the project currently under way at the Gozo General Hospital for the enlargement and complete refurbishment of the elderly female wards.

The project will raise the capacity of these wards by 35 per cent.