{"id":56513,"date":"2026-04-03T14:31:10","date_gmt":"2026-04-03T13:31:10","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/?p=56513"},"modified":"2026-04-03T14:31:10","modified_gmt":"2026-04-03T13:31:10","slug":"new-regulatory-framework-launched-for-public-consultation-to-strengthen-services-for-the-elderly","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/index.php\/2026\/04\/03\/new-regulatory-framework-launched-for-public-consultation-to-strengthen-services-for-the-elderly\/","title":{"rendered":"New regulatory framework launched for public consultation to strengthen services for the elderly"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span class=\"HwtZe\" lang=\"en\"><span class=\"jCAhz ChMk0b\"><span class=\"ryNqvb\">\u00a0The Standards Authority for Older Persons (OPSA) has launched a new regulatory framework for public consultation, with the aim of strengthening services for the elderly.<\/span><\/span> <span class=\"jCAhz\"><span class=\"ryNqvb\">The Minister for Health and Active Ageing Jo Etienne Abela and the Parliamentary Secretary for Active Ageing Malcolm Paul Agius Galea were present for this launch.<\/span><\/span><span class=\"jCAhz\"><span class=\"ryNqvb\">\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span class=\"HwtZe\" lang=\"en\"><span class=\"jCAhz\"><span class=\"ryNqvb\">It was explained how these regulatory standards were designed to ensure a high level of care, protection and dignity for the elderly who make use of these services.<\/span><\/span> <span class=\"jCAhz\"><span class=\"ryNqvb\">The standards are divided into three main categories that reflect the different levels of dependency of the people receiving the service.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span class=\"HwtZe\" lang=\"en\"><span class=\"jCAhz ChMk0b\"><span class=\"ryNqvb\"> The first category concerns residential services for people with high dependency, with an emphasis on personal and social health, the protection of residents, the physical environment and the quality of the service.<\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span class=\"HwtZe\" lang=\"en\"><span class=\"jCAhz\"><span class=\"ryNqvb\">The second category relates to day care centres, where adequate care is provided in a safe environment, as well as activities are organised according to the needs of the users.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span class=\"HwtZe\" lang=\"en\"> <span class=\"jCAhz ChMk0b\"><span class=\"ryNqvb\">The third category addresses residential services for the elderly, including those with dementia, with attention to legal representation, residents\u2019 rights, personal care plans and the provision of appropriate medical care.<\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span class=\"HwtZe\" lang=\"en\"><span class=\"jCAhz\"><span class=\"ryNqvb\">Minister Jo Etienne Abela said that OPSA is entrusted with the responsibility of establishing, publishing and reviewing regulatory standards that guarantee a high level of quality, safety and respect for the dignity of the persons who benefit from these services.<\/span><\/span> <span class=\"jCAhz ChMk0b\"><span class=\"ryNqvb\">\u201cThis responsibility is not only a legal obligation, but a moral commitment towards society as a whole. This public consultation is a crucial opportunity to hear your views, as stakeholders and as citizens, in order to together ensure that these standards are effective, inclusive and adapted to current and future realities,\u201d concluded Dr Abela.<\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_56516\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-56516\" style=\"width: 300px\" class=\"wp-caption alignleft\"><a href=\"http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/PR260549b.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-56516\" src=\"http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/PR260549b-300x208.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"208\" srcset=\"http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/PR260549b-300x208.jpg 300w, http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/PR260549b-150x104.jpg 150w, http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/PR260549b-218x150.jpg 218w, http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/PR260549b-100x70.jpg 100w, http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/PR260549b.jpg 432w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-56516\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Parliamentary Secretary for Active Ageing Malcolm Paul Agius Galea<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><span class=\"HwtZe\" lang=\"en\"><span class=\"jCAhz ChMk0b\"><span class=\"ryNqvb\">Secretary Malcolm Paul Agius Galea stated, \u201cThese new standards that are being submitted for public consultation reflect the Government\u2019s ongoing commitment to ensuring that every elderly person receives quality care, based on respect, dignity and individual needs. It is precisely for this reason that we are continuously working to strengthen a system that places the elderly at the centre of the service and that continues to address the changing realities in our society.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"pvc_clear\"><\/div>\n<p id=\"pvc_stats_56513\" class=\"pvc_stats all  \" data-element-id=\"56513\" style=\"\"><i class=\"pvc-stats-icon medium\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" version=\"1.0\" viewBox=\"0 0 502 315\" preserveAspectRatio=\"xMidYMid meet\"><g transform=\"translate(0,332) scale(0.1,-0.1)\" fill=\"\" stroke=\"none\"><path d=\"M2394 3279 l-29 -30 -3 -207 c-2 -182 0 -211 15 -242 39 -76 157 -76 196 0 15 31 17 60 15 243 l-3 209 -33 29 c-26 23 -41 29 -80 29 -41 0 -53 -5 -78 -31z\"\/><path d=\"M3085 3251 c-45 -19 -58 -50 -96 -229 -47 -217 -49 -260 -13 -295 52 -53 146 -42 177 20 16 31 87 366 87 410 0 70 -86 122 -155 94z\"\/><path d=\"M1751 3234 c-13 -9 -29 -31 -37 -50 -12 -29 -10 -49 21 -204 19 -94 39 -189 45 -210 14 -50 54 -80 110 -80 34 0 48 6 76 34 21 21 34 44 34 59 0 14 -18 113 -40 219 -37 178 -43 195 -70 221 -36 32 -101 37 -139 11z\"\/><path d=\"M1163 3073 c-36 -7 -73 -59 -73 -102 0 -56 133 -378 171 -413 34 -32 83 -37 129 -13 70 36 67 87 -16 290 -86 209 -89 214 -129 231 -35 14 -42 15 -82 7z\"\/><path d=\"M3689 3066 c-15 -9 -33 -30 -42 -48 -48 -103 -147 -355 -147 -375 0 -98 131 -148 192 -74 13 15 57 108 97 206 80 196 84 226 37 273 -30 30 -99 39 -137 18z\"\/><path d=\"M583 2784 c-38 -19 -67 -74 -58 -113 9 -42 211 -354 242 -373 16 -10 45 -18 66 -18 51 0 107 52 107 100 0 39 -1 41 -124 234 -80 126 -108 162 -133 173 -41 17 -61 16 -100 -3z\"\/><path d=\"M4250 2784 c-14 -9 -74 -91 -133 -183 -95 -150 -107 -173 -107 -213 0 -55 33 -94 87 -104 67 -13 90 8 211 198 130 202 137 225 78 284 -27 27 -42 34 -72 34 -22 0 -50 -8 -64 -16z\"\/><path d=\"M2275 2693 c-553 -48 -1095 -270 -1585 -649 -135 -104 -459 -423 -483 -476 -23 -49 -22 -139 2 -186 73 -142 361 -457 571 -626 285 -228 642 -407 990 -497 242 -63 336 -73 660 -74 310 0 370 5 595 52 535 111 1045 392 1455 803 122 121 250 273 275 326 19 41 19 137 0 174 -41 79 -309 363 -465 492 -447 370 -946 591 -1479 653 -113 14 -422 18 -536 8z m395 -428 c171 -34 330 -124 456 -258 112 -119 167 -219 211 -378 27 -96 24 -300 -5 -401 -72 -255 -236 -447 -474 -557 -132 -62 -201 -76 -368 -76 -167 0 -236 14 -368 76 -213 98 -373 271 -451 485 -162 444 86 934 547 1084 153 49 292 57 452 25z m909 -232 c222 -123 408 -262 593 -441 76 -74 138 -139 138 -144 0 -16 -233 -242 -330 -319 -155 -123 -309 -223 -461 -299 l-81 -41 32 46 c18 26 49 83 70 128 143 306 141 649 -6 957 -25 52 -61 116 -79 142 l-34 47 45 -20 c26 -10 76 -36 113 -56z m-2057 25 c-40 -58 -105 -190 -130 -263 -110 -324 -59 -707 132 -981 25 -35 42 -64 37 -64 -19 0 -241 119 -326 174 -188 122 -406 314 -532 468 l-58 71 108 103 c185 178 428 349 672 473 66 33 121 60 123 61 2 0 -10 -19 -26 -42z\"\/><path d=\"M2375 1950 c-198 -44 -350 -190 -395 -379 -18 -76 -8 -221 19 -290 114 -284 457 -406 731 -260 98 52 188 154 231 260 27 69 37 214 19 290 -38 163 -166 304 -326 360 -67 23 -215 33 -279 19z\"\/><\/g><\/svg><\/i> <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"16\" height=\"16\" alt=\"Loading\" src=\"http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/wp-content\/plugins\/page-views-count\/ajax-loader-2x.gif\" border=0 \/><\/p>\n<div class=\"pvc_clear\"><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>\u00a0The Standards Authority for Older Persons (OPSA) has launched a new regulatory framework for public consultation, with the aim of strengthening services for the elderly. The Minister for Health and Active Ageing Jo Etienne Abela and the Parliamentary Secretary for Active Ageing Malcolm Paul Agius Galea were present for this launch.\u00a0 It was explained how [&hellip;]<\/p>\n<div class=\"pvc_clear\"><\/div>\n<p id=\"pvc_stats_56513\" class=\"pvc_stats all  \" data-element-id=\"56513\" style=\"\"><i class=\"pvc-stats-icon medium\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" version=\"1.0\" viewBox=\"0 0 502 315\" preserveAspectRatio=\"xMidYMid meet\"><g transform=\"translate(0,332) scale(0.1,-0.1)\" fill=\"\" stroke=\"none\"><path d=\"M2394 3279 l-29 -30 -3 -207 c-2 -182 0 -211 15 -242 39 -76 157 -76 196 0 15 31 17 60 15 243 l-3 209 -33 29 c-26 23 -41 29 -80 29 -41 0 -53 -5 -78 -31z\"\/><path d=\"M3085 3251 c-45 -19 -58 -50 -96 -229 -47 -217 -49 -260 -13 -295 52 -53 146 -42 177 20 16 31 87 366 87 410 0 70 -86 122 -155 94z\"\/><path d=\"M1751 3234 c-13 -9 -29 -31 -37 -50 -12 -29 -10 -49 21 -204 19 -94 39 -189 45 -210 14 -50 54 -80 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Lynch","author_link":"http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/index.php\/author\/bernardlynch\/"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"\u00a0The Standards Authority for Older Persons (OPSA) has launched a new regulatory framework for public consultation, with the aim of strengthening services for the elderly. The Minister for Health and Active Ageing Jo Etienne Abela and the Parliamentary Secretary for Active Ageing Malcolm Paul Agius Galea were present for this launch.\u00a0 It was explained how&hellip;","_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/56513","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=56513"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/56513\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":56517,"href":"http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/56513\/revisions\/56517"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/56515"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=56513"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=56513"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/livenewsmalta.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=56513"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}