WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 1986
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HE SAID THAT GROSS INADEQUACY OF SUPPORT SERVICES LEFT FAMILIES WITH NO CHOICE BUT TO PUT THE FRAIL ELDERLY INTO INSTITUTIONS. THUS DEFEATING THE CARE IN COMMUNITY CONCEPT WHICH THE GOVERNMENT CLAIMED TO PROMOTE.
IN ORDER TO FULFIL THE COMMUNITY CARE OBJECTIVE, MR HUI MADE THE FOLLOWING SUGGESTIONS:
FIRSTLY, A COMPREHENSIVE SUPPORT NETWORK LINKING UP FORMAL AND INFORMAL SUPPORT SHOULD BE ESTABLISHED: SECONDLY, GAPS IN SERVICE PROVISIONS SHOULD BE IDENTIFIED AND STEPS TAKEN TO INCREASE THE NUMBER AND RANGE OF SERVICE PROVISIONS: THIRDLY, THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD GIVE SUPPORT TO INNOVATIVE SERVICES FOR THE ELDERLY SUCH AS OUTREACHING SERVICE AND RESPITE SERVICES FOR CARE GIVERS FOURTHLY, STAFF AND RESOURCES SHOULD BE ALLOCATED TO VOLUNTARY AGENCIES TO PROVIDE MORE SERVICES TO FAMILIES AND LASTLY APART FROM TAX REDUCTIONS, OTHER INCENTIVES SHOULD BE PROVIDED TO ENCOURAGE FAMILIES TO CARE FOR THE OLD.
MR HUI SAID ALTHOUGH COMMUNITY SUPPORT SERVICES WOULD MAKE LIFE EASIER FOR THOSE ELDERLY WHO COULD LEAD AN INDEPENDENT SOCIAL LIFE. THEY COULD NOT IMPROVE THOSE CHRONICALLY-1LL AND BED-RIDDEN ELDERLY.
HE NOTED THAT THERE WERE A SHORTFALL OF 1 590 INFIRMARY PLACES AND AN UNMET DEMAND FOR INTENSIVE CARE FOR 4 698 APPLICANTS ON THE WAITING LIST FOR CARE AND ATTENTION HOMES IN 1985 AND URGED THE GOVERNMENT TO PAY IMMEDIATE ATTENTION TO THE SITUATION,
MR HUI SAID THAT INCOME MAINTENANCE FOR RETIRED PERSONS WAS ANOTHER PROBLEM THAT WOULD GROW WITH THE INCREASING AGED POPULATION.
→WITH MORE AND MORE ELDERLY GETTING LITTLE OR NO SUPPORT FROM THEIR FAMILIES, TO MAINTAIN A DECENT LIVING STANDARD WITHOUT HAVING TO DEPEND ON PUBLIC WELFARE REQUIRES A COMPREHENSIVE SOCIAL SECURITY PROGRAMME IN THE FORM OF A CENTRAL PROVIDENT FUND, HE SAID.
HE SAID THAT A CENTRAL PROVIDENT FUND SCHEME NOT ONLY GAVE PEOPLE HUMAN DIGNITY BUT ALSO ENSURED BETTER PRODUCTIVITY IN THE LIGHT OF SECURED BENEFITS AFTER RETIREMENT.
REFERRING TO THE RECENTLY RELEASED CODE OF PRACTICE FOR PRIVATE HOMES, MR HUI SAID HE REGRETTED THAT IT ONLY CONTAINED THE MINIMUM STANDARDS AND FELT THESE SHOULD BE RAISED TO THE SAME LEVEL AS OLD AGE HOMES RUN BY SUBVENTED WELFARE AGENCIES.
SINCE THE CODE OF PRACTICE DID NOT HAVE ANY MANDATORY POWER, HE SUGGESTED THAT THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT SHOULD ADOPT MORE POSITIVE MEASURES TO ENCOURAGE VOLUNTARY REGISTRATION OF PRIVATE OLD AGE HOMES WHICH MET THE BASIC REQUIREMENTS OF THE CODE.
HE ADDED THAT PUBLIC EDUCATION WAS NEEDED TO ENABLE CONSUMERS TO ASSESS AND MONITOR THE QUALITY OF SERVICE, AND TO GIVE THE PUBLIC MORE CONFIDENCE IN SEEKING RESIDENTIAL SERVICES FOR THEIR ELDERLY.
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