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WEDNESDAY, APRIL 20, 1977
REFERRING TO THE PROPOSAL FOR LOWERING THE AGE LIMIT FOR OLD PEOPLE TO RECEIVE INFIRMITY ALLOWANCE, MR. LEE RECALLED THAT
THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY HAD IN HIS BUDGET SPEECH ALREADY SUGGESTED THAT SOME PRIORITY SHOULD BE GIVEN TO THIS.
+
TOO, FEEL THAT THE TIME HAS COME FOR US TO RECONSIDER THE QUALIFYING AGE WHETHER THEY ARE LIVING WITH THEIR FAMILIES OR RESIDING IN AN OLD PEOPLE'S HOME, HE SAID.
THE DIRECTOR EXPLAINED THAT THE ORIGINAL INTENTION OF NOT APPLYING THE ALLOWANCE TO THOSE WHO LIVE IN HOMES FOR THE AGED WAS TO PROVIDE SOME INCENTIVE FOR THEM AND THEIR FAMILIES TO REMAIN AS LONG AS POSSIBLE IN A NATURAL FAMILY ENVIRONMENT.
+HOWEVER, IT HAS TRANSPIRED THAT MANY OF THOSE WHO ARE LIVING IN SUCH INSTITUTIONS HAVE NO ONE OUTSIDE TO CARE FOR THEM? HE SAID.
HE TOLD THE COUNCIL HE HAD RECOMMENDED EXTENDING THE INFIRMITY ALLOWANCE TO THOSE IN THE OLD PEOPLE'S HOMES AS ONE OF THE PROPOSALS TO BE CONSIDERED IN THE +PROGRAMME PLAN FOR THE ELDERLY+.
MR. LEE WAS SURE THERE WAS SCOPE FOR THE ELDERLY AND HIS DEPARTMENT WAS DISCUSSING SUCH PROJECTS WITH INTERESTED VOLUNTARY AGENCIES.
HE ALSO ANTICIPATED THAT MORE HOSTELS WOULD BE ESTABLISHED WHERE SUITABLE ACCOMMODATION COULD BE MADE AVAILABLE IN PUBLIC HOUSING ESTATES.
AS FOR THE ELDERLY WHO COULD STILL LIVE INDEPENDENTLY, THE DIRECTOR SAID HE HAD BEEN ABLE UNDER EXISTING ARRANGEMENTS TO REFER SUITABLE CASES TO THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT FOR COMPASSIONATE REHOUSING.
ON THE SUBJECT OF HELPING PUBLIC ASSISTANCE RECIPIENTS TO OBTAIN PRIVATE DENTAL SERVICES AND GLASSES, MR. LEE SAID PROVIDED THE CHARGE WAS REASONABLE, A DISCRETIONARY GRANT COULD BE MADE TO COVER THE COSTS UPON MEDICAL ADVICE.
IF THE CHARGE APPEARED TOO HIGH, HE EXPLAINED, THE GRANT WAS RESTRICTED IN THE CASE OF DENTURES TO AN AMOUNT THAT WAS NORMALLY CHARGED BY DENTAL CLINICS RUN BY WELFARE AGENCIES AT ABOUT $15 PER TOOTH, FOR A PAIR OF GLASSES A PUBLIC ASSISTANCE CLIENT COULD GET UP TO $40.
+CHARITABLE FUNDS ARE ALSO AVAILABLE TO ASSIST PERSONS IN SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES TO ACQUIRE SPECTACLES OR DENTURES, HE ADDED.
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