There is a fairly large piece of land in Pembroke currently owned by a well-known and influential entity on our Island. It is a dirty wasteland, neglected and serving no purpose other than harbouring wild vegetation, a few hedgehogs, mice and rats and a variety of insects. I have heard that it carries a handsome price tag running into 7 digits - quite a formidable amount considering that its acquisition would just be the beginning of a highly ambitious project. There are a few odd constructions that have an obscure historical value, though nevertheless, this fact should be respected. They have been classified by the local Planning Authority to prevent their demolition. These small 'buildings' have been targeted by arsonists possibly in the hope of rendering the land even more valuable to some business concern once these "protected buildings" are destroyed!

The need for such a project arises from the ever increasing number of:

• "social cases" occupying beds in acute hospitals;
• elderly people who cannot cope on their own because of impaired memory, physical frailty, loneliness brought on by the neglect of their own families;
• people, living in flats or houses with several flights of stairs, who become imprisoned in their own homes following strokes, cardiac problems, respiratory distress, cancer, or just simply crippling arthritis;
• overbooked homes with long waiting lists.

The project consists of the erection of a hospice / home to be run by a well-known congregation of nuns of charity, hoping their Mother Superior will accept the challenge and grants the approval for a number of members of the community to come to work amongst the people who will use the services and facilities to be offered. Medical and paramedical personnel will of course be recruited and each inpatient's (resident's) own GP will be an essential and integral member of the team.

Residents would benefit from a secure community environment where they can socialize whilst being cared for by a loving and dedicated team of people. Their needs can be anticipated and taken care of efficiently. A pleasant environment with facilities to cater for special needs will be made available. Gardens with benches, pets, heated pool for physical therapy and relaxation, a community room for bingo and other popular games, a workshop, a hall for social events and a central chapel with a resident priest to administer to the spiritual needs are part of this philanthropic project. The food will be adapted to the various dietary requirements, medicines will be administered under supervision, treatment rooms for acute problems, and scrupulous hygiene throughout will be ensured. Medical records will be kept as is the practice in any hospital. It is envisaged that the home will make full use of available modern technology e.g. computerization of records, fire detection and extinguishing tools, cctv for security and monitoring of residents around the various facilities.

The income will be derived initially from benefactors who believe in the worthiness of the project. Pensions and government assistance will help in the eventual maintenance and running of the facility. Inpatients will be encouraged to engage in occupational activities and goods made could be sold with the proceeds going into a fund that will be channeled back into the home. Besides the financial gains, this active involvement of inpatients would have a therapeutic value: it will encourage them to remain 'productive', giving them a purpose in life, making them feel useful and in demand; it should therefore help maintain their mental and physical well-being as far and as long as possible.

The scope will be to provide a secure, safe, pleasant environment where the chronically ill and senior citizens with special needs can find comfort, love, friendship, and where they can be treated with utmost dignity and respect. The home will be akin to an extended family. Assistance will be available round the clock. Elderly will feel that they still have a significant place in an otherwise hectic and careless society in which pensioners are often considered a burden on society.

If you believe in this philanthropic project, do write to me by clicking on the tree icon below and tell me how you can or wish to help. 

Like in many other developed countries,

our nation is aging too.

WE are the senior citizens of tomorrow;

(and it seems that there will to be too many of us around!)

We may, ourselves, be needing such care one day!

Let us do unto others what we would like done unto us.

(October, 2001)

		See the Case Report on Page 2
	e-mail me	Page 2

* This is a tentative name for the home. Who was Sr. Adeodata Pisani? Sr. Adeodata was born in Naples in 1806. Her father was a Maltese Nobleman and her mother hailed from Naples. In 1828, she joined the Benedictine Community in Mdina, Malta and lived as a cloistered nun for 25 years. Nuns and many persons outside the monastery benefited from her works of charity and her saintly life. She wrote various religious works. She died in 1855 at the age of 48. She was beatified by His Holiness Pope John Paul II on the 9 May, 2001 in Malta.

Wouldn't it be appropriate to have this home inaugurated on the bicentinary of this saintly nun's birth...?

Read more about the Ven. Sr. Adeodata Pisani, by clicking on the rose .