1. #EldersForum2018 #AgeingInCommon #NCF2018

2. #EldersForum2018 #AgeingInCommon #NCF2018
Ministerial address
Malta's national policy for older persons: achievements and challenges
Anthony Agius Decelis
Junior Minister for Persons with Disability & Active Ageing, Parliament of Malta
#EldersForum #AgeingInCommon #NCF2018

3. Elders Forum, ‘Ageing in Common: An International Perspective’
Hon. Anthony Aguis Decelis
Junior Minister for Persons with Disability and Active Ageing

4. Hon. Anthony Agius Decelis
Junior Minister for Disability Rights and Active Ageing Malta

5. Elderly in the future
1 in 8 people worldwide is aged 60 years and over, whilst older persons will outnumber children by 2030, youths will be outnumbered by 2050.
This achievement, however, requires vital social and economic adjustments to expected future demographic realities.

6. Studies
The recent research study, ‘Ageing in the Commonwealth’ (2018), carried out by CommonAge and the Oxford Institute of Population Ageing, shows that a new reality in the Commonwealth countries is emerging –
The absolute number of older population will increase by 100 percent in the next 25 years, with the exception of Canada, Malta and UK which currently have the highest proportion of older people to their populations.

7. Elderly population in Malta
Like all other countries in the Commonwealth Malta’s population is ageing. Currently,
Some 18% of the Maltese population is aged 65+ plus; and
By 2040 the population of persons aged 75+ plus is expected to double from 29,500 to 57,100.

8. Our Vision
The Junior Ministry for Persons with Disability and Active Ageing adopts a proactive vision as far as ageing welfare is concerned.

9. Our Vision
The Junior Ministry Secretariat’s vision is enriched by the National Strategic Policy for Active Ageing, which is premised upon three themes:
Active participation in the labour market;
Social participation in the community; and
Independent living
This policy is complimented with other policy measures namely the National Dementia Strategy, and the Minimum Standards for Care Homes for Older Persons.

10. Policy Framework
The foreseeable future will also witness the launch of another key policy framework, one which will bridge that interface between active ageing and the fourth age.
This strategic plan will ensure that no older person, irrespective of his or her physical and cognitive abilities, will be left behind.

11. Policy Framework
Malta, has also a Commissioner for Older Persons Act which will surely function to safeguard the human rights of older persons.
Moreover, every public care home and Day Centre for Older persons include Representative Committees, a strategy that functions to empower older persons in the running of such entities.

12. Advancements
The Junior Ministry is committed to explore how recent advances in assistive technologies can improve the safety and wellbeing of older persons to enable them to ‘age in place’.

13. Advancements
The Older Persons and Persons with Disability Protection Act follows the introduction of new forms of deterrent measures in the Maltese Criminal Code, specifically dealing with elder abuse.

14. Future Vision
My vision for the future is to take active ageing policy to a more progressive level.

15. Future Vision
Our policy’s foresight is to upgrade the pathways that support full and effective participation in later life, in accordance with old persons’ basic rights, needs and preferences.

16. Concluding remarks
All should adopt a positive attitude towards ageing.
Ageing is not about decline – it should be looked at as continuous growth and new opportunities.

17. Thank you!

18. Thank you!

19. #EldersForum2018 #AgeingInCommon #NCF2018