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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 28, 1982
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IN FITTING OUT THE FLATS, THE OCCUPANTS' NEED FOR PRIVACY SHOULD BE GIVEN CONSIDERATION BECAUSE A CERTAIN DEGREE OF PRIVACY IN A GROUP OF UNRELATED ADULTS LIVING TOGETHER COULD FACILITATE A PERSON TO MAINTAIN HIS INDIVIDUALITY AND PERMIT HIM TO RETREAT IN TIMES OF EMOTIONAL DISTRESS.
* THE RESIDENTS SELECTED TO LIVE IN THESE PRIVATE FLATS, THOUGH MENTALLY AND PHYSICALLY HEALTHY, WILL NEED A WIDE RANGE OF COMMUNITY SUPPORT SERVICES TO KEEP THEMSELVES IN THE COMMUNITY AND OUTSIDE INSTITUTIONAL CARE FOR A TIME AS LONG AS POSSIBLE. MULTI-SERVICE CENTRES, CONCEIVED AS AN ECONOMIC AND EFFICIENT APPROACH IN MOBILISING RESOURCES, SHOULD THEREFORE BE ESTABLISHED IN LOCATIONS WITH A HEAVY CONCENTRATION OF ELDERLY POPULATION.
* THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD ASSUME RESPONSIBILITY FOR
BUILDING MAINTENANCE AND REGULAR INSPECTIONS, OTHERWISE THESE PRIVATE FLATS WILL SOON DETERIORATE INTO GHETTOS.
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IRRESPECTIVE AS TO WHETHER THE SCHEME IS TO BE MANAGED BY THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT OR A SUBVENTED VOLUNTARY ORGANISATION, THE GOVERNMENT MUST TAKE UP THE OVERALL RESPONSIBILITY AND SATISFY ITSELF THAT THE SCHEME IS OPERATED EFFICIENTLY AND IN A COST-EFFECTIVE MANNER.
DR HO ALSO SUGGESTED THAT IN THE INITIAL PHASE, SOCIAL WORKERS SHOULD PAY REGULAR VISITS TO THE ELDERLY RESIDENTS WITH A VIEW TO HELPING THEM TO SETTLE DOWN, TO OVERCOME EARLY ADJUSTMENT DIFFICULTIES AND TO ESTABLISH GOOD RELATIONS AMONG FELLOW- RESIDENTS.
IN ADDITION, HE SAID, SOCIAL WORKERS SHOULD ALSO PROVIDE SOCIAL CONTACT AND COUNSELLING TO THOSE RESIDENTS WHO ARE PRONE TO SUFFER FROM SOCIAL ISOLATION AND OTHER PERSONAL PROBLEMS, ASSESS THE ADEQUACY OF SUPPORT SERVICES AVAILABLE AND ARRANGE FOR SPECIALIST SERVICES FROM RELEVANT AGENCIES WHERE NECESSARY.
ON THE SHORTAGE OF TRAINED SOCIAL WORKERS, DR HO FELT THAT EXPANSION OF STUDENTS INTAKE AT THE TWO UNIVERSITIES ALONE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO BRING ABOUT THE DESIRED EFFECTS.
HE EXPLAINED THAT THE SOCIAL WELFARE SERVICE IS LOSING ITS MUCH NEEDED STAFF THROUGH INCREASING TRANSFERS OUTSIDE THE WELFARE FIELD, TOGETHER WITH A DECREASING INPUT FROM SOCIAL WORK GRADUATES WHO TAKE UP THE PROFESSION.
IT IS ALSO NOTED THAT IN RECENT YEARS QUITE A FEW SOCIAL WORK GRADUATES DID NOT TAKE UP SOCIAL WORK AFTER THE IR FORMAL TRAINING.
+THE MAJOR FACTORS ACCOUNTING FOR THIS ACUTE PROBLEM HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED AS POOR PROMOTION AND CAREER PROSPECTS, UNFAVOURABLE SALARY STRUCTURE, LIMITED STAFF DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES AND UNPLEASANT JOB NATURE, SAID DR HO.
/FURTHERMORE,