Malta’s Revolutionary Dementia Course: How October Programme is Transforming Family Care Across the Islands
**At Home with Dementia: October Course Brings Hope to Maltese Families**
As autumn’s golden light bathes Malta’s honey-coloured limestone buildings, hundreds of local families are preparing for a different kind of seasonal transition. This October, the Malta Dementia Society launches its pioneering “At Home with Dementia” course—a four-week programme that promises to transform how Maltese families navigate the complexities of caring for loved ones with dementia.
The timing couldn’t be more poignant. With Malta’s over-65 population now comprising nearly 20% of the island’s 516,000 residents, dementia has emerged from the shadows of whispered conversations into the glaring spotlight of public health discourse. Recent Health Ministry figures reveal that approximately 7,000 Maltese live with dementia—a number projected to double by 2050 as the population ages.
“We’re seeing a cultural shift,” explains Dr. Josanne Aquilina, the society’s programme director, speaking from their Valletta headquarters. “Maltese families traditionally kept dementia hidden—’nannu is just forgetful’ was the common refrain. But younger generations are breaking taboos, seeking knowledge rather than shame.”
The course, running every Tuesday evening throughout October at the University of Malta’s Msida campus, addresses this generational transformation head-on. Sessions cover everything from understanding the medical basics to navigating Malta’s healthcare system, managing behavioural changes, and crucially, preserving the island’s cherished family traditions despite cognitive decline.
Local customs present unique challenges. Consider the Maltese festa season—those vibrant village feasts that define summer social calendars. For families dealing with dementia, the crowds, fireworks and processions can trigger confusion and agitation. The course provides practical strategies: creating quiet spaces during village celebrations, using familiar festa memorabilia as memory anchors, and knowing when to gracefully exit overwhelming situations.
“The Maltese concept of ‘familja’ means everyone pitches in,” notes course facilitator Maria Spiteri, whose own mother lived with dementia for eight years. “But this beautiful support system can become chaotic without coordination. We’ve designed modules specifically for extended family networks—teaching cousins, nieces and nephews how to help effectively.”
Practical elements resonate strongly with participants. Local nurse Pauline Camilleri, who attended the pilot programme, shares how learning to create “memory boxes” filled with Gozitan lace, traditional ħobż biż-żejt recipes, and old festa photographs helped her father maintain connections to his identity. “When he’d get agitated, we’d pull out his box from the Siġġiewi strawberry festival. Suddenly, he’d start recounting stories from 1962 like they happened yesterday.”
The economic impact cannot be ignored. With private care facilities costing €2,000-€4,000 monthly—prohibitive for many Maltese families—keeping loved ones home longer represents both emotional preference and financial necessity. The course teaches families to access government schemes, including the recently introduced dementia care allowance and respite services through local councils.
Perhaps most revolutionary is the programme’s embrace of Malta’s intergenerational living arrangements. Unlike northern European models assuming nuclear family isolation, the course acknowledges that Maltese dementia patients often live with adult children, grandchildren, even great-grandchildren under one roof. Sessions address how teenagers can understand grandparent’s changes, turning potential frustration into meaningful connection.
Registration for October’s course closes September 25th, with organisers capping attendance at 50 families to maintain intimacy. The response has been overwhelming—over 120 applications received within the first week, prompting plans for additional November sessions.
As Malta grapples with its ageing population, initiatives like “At Home with Dementia” represent more than healthcare provision—they embody the island’s evolving identity. By transforming private struggles into community knowledge, the programme ensures that Malta’s legendary family bonds strengthen rather than fracture under dementia’s challenge.
In a country where neighbourly concern still matters, where village pharmacies know customers by name, this October course offers something invaluable: hope wrapped in practical wisdom, delivered with characteristic Maltese warmth.
