Active Ageing and Community Care

Active Ageing and Community Care is the part of the Government of Malta that looks after services for older people living in the community. Its purpose is to help people keep control of their own lives for as long as possible as they grow older. It is listed at the FXB Building in Qormi, a large town in the centre of the island, and its online presence is in Maltese, with each service explained on its own page.

The department sits in our directories of community centres in Malta and health centres in Malta. For British retirees, residents with elderly parents on the island, or anyone moving to Malta later in life, it is one of the public bodies worth knowing about.

What the department stands for

The department works within the National Strategic Policy for Active Ageing 2023 to 2030. Through it, the Government has committed to making Malta a country that suits every age. The idea is a society in which different generations invest in one another and share the benefits, and in which respect, equality, independence, participation, good health care, personal fulfilment and the dignity of older people are always upheld.

In practice, that means the department pairs care with opportunities. One of its aims is to give older adults chances to stay active physically, mentally and socially, in addition to providing clinical and residential support when it is needed.

Services listed on its website

Its website groups what it provides under several headings. Community clinical services are the first, followed by other community services. Residential care in the community is a separate heading, as is care for people living with dementia. A multi-disciplinary clinic operates in Gozo, serving the sister island, and our Gozo guide gives a picture of that part of Malta.

There is also a section on services for older people that are delivered by other entities, a section on discounts for older people, and a home-based diabetes management service. Further pages cover applications, legislation and publications, and San Vinċenz de Paul. Pages are also provided for public consultations and for joining the public service.

Each heading corresponds to a different part of later life. Clinical services in the community suit people who need health care while living at home, residential care in the community suits those who need more support than home can provide, and the dementia heading shows that cognitive decline has its own dedicated service. Discounts and applications cover the financial and administrative side of being an older resident, and the diabetes service brings management of that condition into the home.

This is a description of the headings the department uses, not advice. Entitlements, eligibility and application steps are set by the department, so confirm them directly.

Information for UK families and new residents

People moving from the UK often ask how care for older relatives works in Malta. Our Malta relocation guide explains the practical steps of settling in, and our about Malta overview gives background on the islands. Visiting parents or grandparents may benefit from checking our Malta weather guide before choosing travel dates, and our guide to where to stay in Malta helps you pick a base. Flights from Britain are covered in our flights to Malta page, and things to do in Malta lists easy-paced outings.

Because the department's website is written in Maltese, an English-speaking relative may need help reading it. Ask about language support when you get in touch, and say which service you are interested in so that your message reaches the right team.

How to enquire

Use the VisitMalta.co.uk enquiry form on this page to ask about a service, such as community clinical care, dementia care or residential care, and we will pass your message to Active Ageing and Community Care.