The government is set to purchase 109 beds from Dar l-Annunzjata, a new residential home for the elderly which is due to open in Tarxien in March.

The seven-storey facility, which is located along Tal-Barrani road, will have 230 beds, just under half of which will be bought out by the government. All rooms are suitable for dementia patients.

The facility is the first venture in residential care for Eldercare Ltd, with Blodwen Vella Spiteri serving as director for the home.

Vella Spiteri said that the facility is committed to providing state of the art care in the community, in an environment where residents feel safe and empowered.

The facility will include several clinics, a retail outlet as well as a gym. 

Works on the project started five years ago.  

The minister for Active Ageing, Michael Farrugia, said during a tour that the government last year purchased 500 beds from the private sector and helped some 800 people to transition into an assisted care facility throughout the Covid-19 pandemic.

He said it was important for the industry to continue to dream and achieve despite the hardships of the pandemic, while aiming for the best possible standards in elderly care.

The government's vision was for the elderly to remain integrated in their community as much as possible and for homes to have a high standard, Farrugia said. 

“We should not be afraid to challenge and overturn the bad practices we’ve come to accept as normal over the years.”