In 2007, Kulsoom Mushtaq Chirag was studying for an advanced nursing degree at the University of Malta. Her clinical hours included a stint at Casa Antonia Retirement Home in Balzan: St George’s Care is responsible for both Casa Antonia and The Imperial. As she was working, she had what she describes as a lightbulb moment: “I knew that caring for people of an advanced age was what I wanted to do,” Kulsoom says.
Having finished her studies, she secured a Registered Nurse position at Casa Antonia. This move was followed by positions as a Deputy Manager and later as Nursing Manager at The Imperial where she stayed for five years. “St George’s Care offered me my first job in Malta, and I’m still here.”
In October 2024, Kulsoom became the General Manager of Casa Antonia. She handed the position of Nursing Manager to Gloria Agius, another long-term St George's employee. “I started working at The Imperial as a carer in 2010,” Gloria says. “Then I worked as a waitress and later at reception, which allowed me to pursue a degree in nursing at the same time.” Having graduated, Gloria joined the nursing staff of Mater Dei hospital.
Following two years at the hospital, Gloria chose to pursue a Master’s degree in Management of Elderly Care. Shortly after graduating from her advanced studies she received a message from St George’s Care’s Managing Director, Dr Sarah Cassar, asking her to interview for the position of Nursing Manager at The Imperial.
“That’s one of the similarities between me and Kulsoom. We kept coming back to stay at St George’s Care.”
Both women believe that their upbringing in multi-generational cultures and homes contributed to their love for elderly people. “My mum told me that I always liked to spend time with my grandparents as a child,” Gloria says.
“Family ties are very strong in my culture,” Kulsoom adds. She fondly remembers a particularly strong connection with her grandfather. Both women believe that their upbringing has given them a natural ability to read elderly people and connect with them easily. The connection runs both ways. Kulsoom acknowledges that Casa Antonia residents just need to look at her to see if she’s having a tough day.
That connection and innate understanding are particularly important when residents begin to suffer from debilitating conditions like dementia. “Our teams have to become their voice when they can no longer speak for themselves,” says Kulsoom. Both emphasise the importance of working with the whole person in front of them.
“Our residents are more than the potentially frail, older person you see in front of you,” says Gloria. “They're someone’s dad or mum, and it’s a privilege that we’ve been trusted to care for their much-loved family member.”
Aside from knowledge and compassion, Kulsoom and Gloria highlight the innovative approach to care that sets Casa Antonia and The Imperial apart from their competition. Visitors regularly comment that stepping into either residence doesn’t feel like they’re setting foot into an elderly care place.
“We make sure that our residents have the best possible environment to live in. At The Imperial, residents choose when they have their meals, and you’ll often see two women walking to the pool to enjoy a swim before meeting at the salon to get their hair done,” Gloria says. “We encourage residents to stay as independent as possible for as long as possible.”
Both residences also encourage older people to personalise their rooms and bring items that will make them feel more at home. Small pieces of furniture, picture frames and other decorative items are ideal to create a sense of home. Plus, visitors are welcome at any time.
“We also organise weekly outings according to our residents’ wishes and offer a range of health and wellness activities to allow them to enjoy this phase of their lives,” Kulsoom explains. Many residents come from villages around Malta and look forward to events like the village festas.
“For those who are no longer able to go out, we bring the festa into the house,” she adds. Making these events happen involves every department of St George’s Care, including staff who are not in daily contact with the residents. “This is a great way for everyone to work together and connect between departments and departments and residents,” Kulsoom believes.
Technology plays a role in delivering outstanding care, too. “In my previous roles, we kept paper files,” Gloria says. While that system worked well enough, she believes the software-based filing system at The Imperial supports her better. “All of our residents have individualised care plans. Using software allows me to access those plans with a few clicks.”
In practice, that means if a relative phones for an update about their family member, Gloria and her team have all the relevant information in front of them within seconds. The same system will be rolled out at Casa Antonia soon, improving the level of care even further.
Investing in technology is one part of the team’s quest to deliver the best possible level of care, but finding the right team members is equally important. Gloria and Kulsoom say that while academic qualifications are important, both look for that natural touch and connection between a potential team member and their residents.
“This is more than just a job,” Gloria says. “We’re looking for people who want to come here and learn and grow with us for years to come.” To achieve that, the company offers advantageous working conditions and encourages teamwork.
“Our carers aren’t expected to do everything; we have excellent allied healthcare workers that can take care of specialist tasks and allow us to deliver holistic, professional care to every single resident,” Gloria adds. “Communication is the key to that, and it’s my dream to see carers and nurses work as a team with open and continuous lines of communication and support.”
Kulsoom and Gloria understand that deciding to move into residential care is a big step for anyone. Their recommendation is to stay independent for as long as possible. “But when the time comes, go and visit a few different homes to see what suits you,” Gloria recommends. “Look for a community, such as a home where you already know other people. That will help with the transition to this new stage of life.”
At St George’s Care, people of an advanced age will find a community built on independence where possible, a high level of trust and outstanding personalised care supported by technology to help them enjoy every moment.
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