The Young Chamber Network (YCN), a forum within The Malta Chamber, seeks to create connections between a new generation of young businesspeople. Journalist Martina Said meets Dr Sarah Cassar, Managing Director of St George's Care Ltd. 

After obtaining a Law Degree from the University of Malta in 2011 and a stint practicing with a leading firm, Sarah Cassar joined the family business, St George’s Care Ltd, the company that operates Casa Antonia care home in Balzan. Furthering her knowledge of the sector, she read for a Postgraduate Diploma in Gerontology and Geriatrics, and soon went on to become General Manager of Casa Antonia.

Since 2003, Casa Antonia has been offering long-term care, short-stay convalescence and respite care, with a focus on providing exceptional care and services, as well as creating a community of likeminded people in which elderly residents can live a full and satisfying life, says Dr Cassar.

Speaking of the past year, she explains that it has been particularly challenging but also rewarding for the team at Casa Antonia, who reorganised the day-to-day running of the home when the COVID-19 pandemic struck in March 2020. “A full lockdown was held for 12 weeks, the primary aim of which was to keep our residents safe, and within two days, we organised lodging and supplies for a team of 70 people to live on site.”

The latter is a truly proud moment for Dr Cassar, who witnessed employees volunteer to be part of the first group to enter into lockdown, living and working at Casa Antonia in three- or six-week shifts, with no physical contact with the outside world. Having experienced this herself too, Dr Cassar says, “it offered a completely new perspective on life at Casa Antonia and a chance to get to know our staff and residents more intimately. It also gave me insight to better understand the needs of our residents.”

Nine months on, Dr Cassar says they are still operating under challenging conditions. “We’ve found ourselves putting in place rules and regulations which go against our great efforts to have our residents live as part of the community,” she explains. “The situation is heart-breaking for all working in the industry, but especially for those of us who have worked hard to provide opportunities for the elderly to live actively.”

Looking ahead to the coming year, Dr Cassar says 2021 is earmarked to be an exciting year for the company, with the opening of its second home – The Imperial in Rudolph Street, Sliema – formerly the Imperial Hotel, which was housed in a historic building dating back to 1865. “The historic part of the property will be the hub of our community, housing our reception area, coffee shop, administrative offices, a hair salon and several activity rooms. Planned to be an extension of the Sliema community as much as a part of The Imperial, the Villa  includes a games room, library and several lounges, among others.”

Speaking about her experience within the Young Chamber Network, Dr Cassar explains that times of crisis bring people together, and the Care Homes Operators Division within the Malta Chamber was created in March 2020, when operators found that they desperately needed to band together to get through the crisis.

“Joining The Chamber meant finding a safe place in which we could share our fears, but more importantly, come up with a common strategy for the industry,” says Dr Cassar. Beyond this, she adds that discovering the Young Chamber Network was a pleasant surprise. “I had imagined that I would be surrounded by older persons with more experience than me, but meeting people of a similar age and from different sectors gave my experience within The Chamber a whole new spin.”

Dr Cassar adds that she enjoys being a part of the Care Home Operators Division and the all-female Care Home Operators Committee, and cherishes the opportunity provided by the YCN to meet people from different industries and learn about their experiences, “which inspires and provides us with an opportunity to rethink the way we do things as an industry, and as a company.”