FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 1977
GREEN PAPER ON SERVICES FOR THE ELDERLY
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A GREEN PAPER WHICH OUTLINES RECOMMENDATIONS FOR DEVELOPING SERVICES FOR THE ELDERLY IN HONG KONG IN THE NEXT 10 YEARS IS PUBLISHED TODAY (FRIDAY) FOR PUBLIC COMMENT.
ANY VIEWS AND SUGGESTIONS EXPRESSED ON THEM BY THE PUBLIC AND PROFESSIONAL BODIES WILL BE STUDIED CAREFULLY BEFORE ANY DECISION IS TAKEN BY THE GOVERNMENT.
IT IS HOPED THAT A FIRM PROGRAMME FOR THE FUTURE DEVELOPMENT ON THIS FIELD WILL BE PREPARED EARLY NEXT YEAR IN THE FORM OF A WHITE PAPER.
THE GREEN PAPER SUMMARISES THE FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS OF A 'PROGRAMME PLAN FOR SERVICES FOR THE ELDERLY SUBMITTED IN JULY THIS YEAR BY AN INTER-DEPARTMENTAL WORK ING GROUP IN WHICH THE HONG KONG COUNCIL OF SOCIAL SERVICE WAS ALSO REPRESENTED.
IT CONTAINS SOME 50 RECOMMENDATIONS WHICH FALL MAINLY INTO THE FOLLOWING SERVICE AREAS:-
SERVICES IN CASH
VARIOUS IMPROVEMENTS IN THE EXISTING SOCIAL SECURITY SCHEMES ARE PROPOSED TO ENSURE A DEGREE OF ECONOMIC SECURITY FOR THE ELDERLY SO THAT THEIR BASIC AND SPECIAL NEEDS CAN BE MET WITHOUT UNDUE HARDSHIP. THESE INCLUDE: AN OLD AGE SUPPLEMENT WITHIN THE PUBLIC ASSISTANCE SCALE OF ALLOWANCE TO LOWER THE QUALIFYING AGE FOR THE INFIRMITY ALLOWANCE FROM 75 TO 73 AND THEN TO 70- AND TO EXTEND OLD AGE ALLOWANCE TO THOSE IN INSTITUTIONS AND HOSPITALS.
HEALTH SERVICES
PROVIDING ADEQUATE HEALTH SERVICES FOR THE ELDERLY IS PARTICULARLY IMPORTANT AS PEOPLE ARE MORE LIKELY TO GET SICK AS THEY AGE. IT IS RECOMMENDED TO EXPAND THE PREVENTIVE, OUT-PATIENT, AND IN-PATIENT SERVICES FOR OLD PEOPLE.
COMMUNITY SUPPORT SERVICES
PERSONAL SUPPORT SERVICES WILL ENABLE OLD PEOPLE TO LOOK AFTER THEMSELVES ADEQUATELY AND TO REMAIN RELATIVELY INDEPENDENT MEMBERS OF SOCIETY RATHER THAN TO SEEK INSTITUTIONAL CARE. THE RECOMMENDATIONS INCLUDE EXPANDING THE HOME-HELP SERVICE TO REORGANISE THE HOME VISITING SERVICE AND TO ESTABLISH DAY-CARE CENTRES AND MULTI-SERVICE CENTRES FOR THE ELDERLY.
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