How will artificial-intelligence companions transform the care of older persons? How do other countries keep their ageing population active and healthy? And how can we make sure our human rights are safeguarded even as we age in Malta?

These are some of the topics that will be discussed at a landmark national conference on 28 November, organised by the International Institute on Ageing United Nations – Malta (INIA), and Healthmark, a private healthcare company.

As Malta’s population continues to age rapidly, safeguarding the rights of older persons has come to the forefront of national discussions. This event will focus on how technological advancements and policies promoting active and healthy ageing, can protect the human rights of older persons in Malta and beyond.

AI senior companions, a concept gaining traction in the care of older persons, will be explored in a keynote speech by Prof. Alexiei Dingli, AI expert from the University of Malta. His address will delve into how AI can provide support, companionship, and assistance to older persons, improving their well-being and independence without replacing human interactions.

Meanwhile, Lisa Warth, Chief of the Population Unit at the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), will share her insights with international perspectives of active and healthy ageing. With a wealth of experience in policy dialogue on demographic change, Lisa will discuss global best practices that promote active ageing, drawing from her work at UNECE and the World Health Organization (WHO).

Also giving a keynote speech at the conference is Dr. Mark-Anthony Vassallo, Consultant Geriatrician at the Ministry for Health and Active Ageing, who will address the medical aspects of safeguarding the rights and wellbeing of older persons in Malta.

“We are at a pivotal moment for the future of elderly care in Malta,” said Charlotte Sant Portanier, CEO of Healthmark. “Through this conference, we aim to engage all relevant stakeholders in a meaningful dialogue to ensure that older persons in Malta live with dignity, respect, and equal access to opportunities for healthy and active ageing.”

Marvin Formosa, Director of INIA, stressed that “By bringing together local and international experts, this conference allows us to examine global trends and how we can apply them to Malta’s specific context. It’s an opportunity to address the emerging challenges and capitalise on the opportunities that come with an ageing population.”

The conference, entitled Safeguarding The Rights Of Older Persons: Innovations In Healthy And Active Ageing will be held on Thursday 28 November at Salini Resort between 8.30am and 1pm.

For tickets to the conference visit Showshappening.com

Sources: TVM News, The Malta Independent & Newsbook Malta.

Imagine your day beginning with a friendly face, someone who knows just how you like your morning tea, listens to your stories with genuine interest, and is always ready to lend a hand, be it for a bath or a leisurely stroll in the garden.

With Healthmark, this comforting routine – and so much more – becomes a part of your daily life. We offer a trio of services in the comfort of your home: Care Workers, Home Help, and Nursing Services, each designed to enrich your life with care, comfort, and independence. 

Each of these services can be tailored to your needs, including the specific hours you may require.

Our Care Workers are available for 24-hour assistance, offering meal preparation, bathing help, companionship, respite services and much more. For those adventurous at heart, our travel companionship service extends beyond Malta’s shores, ensuring you can enjoy holidays with ease and safety.

Our Home Help Services are tailored to maintain the warmth and familiarity of your home. Whether it’s running errands, shopping, ironing, light domestic work, or meal preparation, we’re here to help you keep your home just the way you love it.

When it comes to health, our Nursing Services provide comprehensive care with a personal touch. From 24-hour nursing, wound management, administering injections or medications, to specialised care for dementia, diabetes, post-operative recovery, and palliative care.  Our professional nurses ensure your health needs are met with compassion and expertise.

Healthmark’s services can be short-term (such as to assist clients of all ages to transition from hospital to home care) or indefinite (allowing clients to live at home instead of moving into a nursing home).

At Healthmark, we believe in more than just providing care; we believe in creating partnerships that enhance the joy and fullness of life in the comfort of your home, with bespoke packages tailored to your individual needs. 

For a free consultation about your needs, call us at 2279 7000 or email info@healthmark.com.mt

As the festive season kicks in, it’s the perfect time to turn our attention to the heroes of our healthcare system.  

Healthmark’s latest Christmas video does just that, shining a spotlight on the remarkable people who dedicate their working life to looking after others. 

This heartwarming piece serves as a reminder of the invaluable contributions of nurses, carers, cleaners, chefs and all those involved in the Healthmark operation. 

These professionals are an integral part of Malta’s health sector. Nurses and carers work tirelessly, often in challenging circumstances, to ensure the well-being of their patients. Their commitment goes beyond mere job descriptions; they are the pillars of support and empathy for those in their care. 

The video also highlights the vital role of chefs and food preparation staff behind the tens of thousands healthcare meals. These culinary experts blend nutrition with care, ensuring that every dish they prepare supports patients’ health and well-being. 

Healthmark is an independent provider of cares, nurses, helpers and healthcare-specialised catering, and forms part of the larger Kore Group.  

The group, employing around 4,000 individuals, recently expanded its global footprint by launching a training centre in Dubai, aimed at bolstering Malta’s healthcare workforce. 

After a year in which artificial intelligence and technological advancements gripped the world’s attention, a poignant reminder of the enduring power of human connection comes from an unexpected source this festive season. 

Healthmark, a prominent name in Malta’s healthcare sector, has released a Christmas video that eloquently underscores the irreplaceable value of the human touch in healthcare. 

Filmed from the perspective of the hands of Healthmark carers and nurses working with patients, the video is a vivid portrayal of empathy and compassion in action. It serves as a powerful counterpoint to the prevailing narrative of an increasingly digital world, reminding viewers that, despite technological strides, the comforting presence of a human touch remains unmatched, especially when it comes to human care. 

Healthmark is an independent provider of cares, nurses, helpers and healthcare-specialised catering.  

Heathmark forms part of the Kore Group, which employs around 4,000 people and recently launched a training centre in Dubai to help attract and train more staff to meet the growing needs of Malta’s healthcare system. 

In an age in which our lives are increasingly intertwined with technology, it’s easy to forget the fundamental human connections that make us who and what we are.

This Christmas, a heartwarming video released by local healthcare company Healthmark is reminding us all of the irreplaceable value of the human touch, particularly in the world of healthcare.

The video, filmed from the unique perspective of the hands of care workers, nurses and patients, paints a vivid picture of compassion and empathy. It is not an accident that the phrase ‘to give a hand’ says so much.

It’s a gentle yet powerful reminder that, no matter how advanced technology becomes, the caring touch of the human hand holds a unique magic that comforts and heals.

The video takes us on an emotional journey through the eyes of those giving and receiving care.

This festive season, as we get lost in the hustle and bustle of Christmas preparations and digital distractions, this video is a touching reminder to appreciate the people around us.

It’s a call to recognise and celebrate the hands that care, heal and make a difference all year round.

Healthmark is an independent provider of carers, nurses, helpers and healthcare-specialised catering.

Heathmark forms part of the Kore Group, which employs around 4,000 people. This Group recently launched a training centre in Dubai to help attract and train more staff to meet the growing needs of Malta’s healthcare system.

What did you think of the video?

Malta’s largest healthcare employer has set up a training centre in Dubai where employees can be screened and trained before coming to Malta. 

The Kore Group, a joint venture between the db Group and JCL Holdings Limited, has launched the Healthmark Training Centre in Dubai.

“Malta is competing with many other countries for the same talent. To ensure we have a steady flow of the right complement of carers and nurses for our hospitals and care homes, it is essential that we upgrade the way we source, train and deploy talent on a constant basis. That is what we are doing here,” Kore Group CEO Charlotte Sant Portanier said.

For the past seven years, the group has been recruiting healthcare staff from countries such as Bangladesh, Nepal, the Philippines, and India to meet local demand. 

Kore Group CEO Charlotte Sant Portanier speaks about the initiative. Video: Karl Andrew Micallef

Workers traditionally received training in Malta and were then deployed to their respective workplaces. They will now undergo a weeklong training course in Dubai before reaching Malta, learning about their role as care workers, how to communicate with patients and look after vulnerable people, food handling and infection control, among other things. 

The centre will also allow Kore to screen employees before they reach Malta, to ensure that prospective workers live up to their resumes. 

Located in the heart of Dubai Silicon Oasis, the training centre includes a training room, a hospital simulation room equipped with cutting-edge medical equipment, offices, meeting rooms, and a recreation area, the company said in a statement. 

The company said it would also be launching a training academy in San Ġwann featuring art facilities lecture rooms, a seminar hall, an applied nutrition lab, a hospital simulation lab with advanced medical equipment, private offices, and a recreation area. 

The academy is affiliated with Pearson (UK) and BELS English Language School (Malta) and will offer a range of courses, including the Pearson BTEC International Level 3 Foundation Diploma in Health and Social Care, Pearson BTEC International Diploma Level 2, and IELTS English Certification. 

Kore Group was established in 2006 as a joint venture between the db Group and JCL Holdings Limited. The db Group was founded by Silvio Debono in 1984 and operates in the tourism, hospitality and property development sectors. JCL Holdings was set up in 1989 by James Barbara and is one of Malta’s largest catering companies. 

Having started off by producing meals for airlines and state hospitals, Kore Group now also supplies healthcare workers to public hospitals and clinics as well as home care services, and operates a number of homes for the elderly across Malta and Gozo. It now employs over 4,000 employees across a range of operations.