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 The 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.  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. The standards are divided into three main categories that reflect the different levels of dependency of the people receiving the service. 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. 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. The third category addresses residential services for the elderly, including those with dementia, with attention to legal representation, residents’ rights, personal care plans and the provision of appropriate medical care. 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. “This 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,” concluded Dr Abela. [caption id="attachment_56516" align="alignleft" width="300"] Parliamentary Secretary for Active Ageing Malcolm Paul Agius Galea[/caption] Secretary Malcolm Paul Agius Galea stated, “These new standards that are being submitted for public consultation reflect the Government’s 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.”