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TUESDAY, MARCH 11, 1986
IN JULY 1985 THE HOUSING AUTHORITY DECIDED THAT THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT WOULD RESERVE PREMISES FOR A SHELTERED HOUSING UNIT IN EVERY NEW PUBLIC HOUSING ESTATE WITH OVER 3 000 FLATS.
EACH UNIT WOULD HAVE A CAPACITY OF 100 TO 150 PLACES AND THE FIRST OF THESE UNITS WAS SCHEDULED TO BE AVAILABLE IN THE 1986-87 FINANCIAL YEAR, MRS CHAN SAID.
HOSTELS CATERED TO THE ELDERLY IN NEED OF SUPPORT, SECURITY AND SOME SUPERVISION, AND USUALLY PROVIDED A SELF-CARE SECTION AND A MEAL SECTION FOR RESIDENTS WHO COULD NOT COPE WITH COOKING.
ELDERLY PEOPLE IN NEED OF A GREATER DEGREE OF CARE COULD BE ADMITTED TO HOMES FOR THE AGED, CARE AND ATTENTION HOMES OR INFIRMAR IES.
AT PRESENT ALL CARE AND ATTENTION HOMES WERE PURPOSE-BUILT, BUT THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT WAS NOW OFFERING PREMISES IN NEW PUBLIC HOUSING ESTATES FOR HOMES FOR THE AGED, EACH ATTACHED WITH A CARE AND ATTENTION UNIT.
+ THE FIRST OF THESE HOMES AND CARE AND ATTENTION UNITS IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN OPERATION IN THE FINANCIAL YEAR OF 1987-88, MRS CHAN SAID.
ALL SUCH RESIDENTIAL SERVICES WERE FEE-CHARGING THOUGH ON A HEAVILY SUBSIDISED BASIS, SO THAT NO ELDERLY PEOPLE WOULD BE BARRED FROM ADMISSION ON FINANCIAL GROUNDS.
GIVEN A GROWING ELDERLY POPULATION, IT WAS NOT DIFFICULT TO APPRECIATE WHY IN RECENT YEARS SO MUCH EMPHASIS HAD BEEN GIVEN TO DEVELOPING THIS WIDE RANGE OF SERVICES AND OPTIONS FOR OLD PEOPLE, SHE SAID.
+THIS EMPHASIS WILL CONTINUE BUT IT CANNOT BE OVER-EMPHASISED THAT THE OLD AMONG US IS A RESPONSIBILITY THAT FAMILIES AND SOCIETY AT LARGE MUST SHARE.
ADDED.
+GOVERNMENT ALONE CANNOT HOPE TO MEET THIS CHALLENGE,+ SHE
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