A new agreement was signed today between interested parties regarding new premises to operate as a Day Centre for the Elderly in Gozo. The new premises, forming part of the Social Action Movement Complex in Ghajnsielem, will serve as a base from which Day Centre facilities are provided on a regular basis for around 200 elderly Gozitans and others attending University of the third age in Gozo.

The agreement was signed between representatives of the Ministry for Gozo, the Social Action Movement as proprietors of the premises and twelve Gozitan Local Councils. The new centre will provide facilities where elderly members can attend the various activities organised for them during the week.

The initiative for the setting-up of the first Day Centre for the Elderly in Gozo was taken by the Ministry for Gozo in conjunction with Caritas and twelve Gozitan Local Councils and was officially inaugurated in May 1999.

Staff from the 'Care for the Elderly' section within the Ministry for Gozo, prepare and organise a programme which runs on a Monday to Thursday basis from 8.30a.m. to 1.00p.m. Apart from serving as a social event where elderly members coming from different Gozitan villages can meet and share interests, they are also given professional advice and information regarding subjects of particular interest to them through regular talks organised at the centre. Residents of Residenza Sant'Anna and the Male Geriatric Ward at the Gozo General Hospital also join in on one of the days. On Friday the Day Centre is available for meetings organised by elderly Gozitans attending the University for the Third Age.

Regular activities organised by the Care for the Elderly Section within the Ministry for Gozo include a monthly outing in Gozo, exchange visits with other Day Centres for the Elderly in Malta two times a year, celebration dinners in local restaurants at Easter and Christmas and an annual seven day tour to a European destination.

The success of this initiative made it necessary for the Day Centre administration to move to the new premises at the MAS Complex. A Ministry for Gozo spokesperson remarked that this success is mainly due to the dedication of the administration of the Care for the Elderly Section, the Day Centre staff and the encouraging response from the Gozitan elderly together with the cooperation of the relative Local Councils.