The Minister for the Elderly and Active Aging Michael Farrugia announced that a number of innovative activities will be organized aimed at the elderly living in the community.
During a press conference, Minister Michael Farrugia explained that these activities will be suitable for both women and men. A survey of more than 480 60-year-old men gathered information on men’s social participation preferences. The result was used to draw up this program of activities which included a visit to the Maltese Aviation Museum, a talk on the history of the capital city, a visit to the Red Tower and a talk on the process of how wine is made among others.
Minister Farrugia said that this is a pilot project that will be open to the elderly living in the central region and in the northern region. The plan is that if this program is successful, it will be extended to more regions. He also announced that the department will facilitate accessibility by providing transportation to those in need.
The activities are aimed at seniors who would like to meet other seniors, learn more about various topics including the history of Malta and visit places of interest. The program will be divided into a fortnightly activity alternating between a talk at the Valletta Design Cluster and a cultural outing.
For more information one can watch the program from the site activeageing.gov.mt or call 21650940. Applications close one week before each activity. Anyone wishing to participate in this program must register for each activity.
A number of free courses and programs are also underway at a number of active aging centers. One of them is Adult Sports. This program includes a number of sports sessions, such as walking football and seated tennis, that are suitable for the elderly. In addition, the Stay Active program includes information sessions and exercises for seniors led by physiotherapists and other professionals. A course aimed at older people who want to learn how to make better use of technology while taking care of their mental health is also underway.
