TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 1988
"IT RESTS WITH EACH SOCIETY TO PROVIDE COMMUNITY SUPPORT TO ENCOURAGE THE FAMILY UNIT TO EXTEND THEIR LOVING SUPPORT TO THE ELDERLY, AND TO PROVIDE THESE FAMILIES WITH ENHANCED SUPPORT SYSTEMS IN CARING FOR THE ELDERLY AND TO ASSIST THE ELDERLY TO RETAIN SELF RESPECT AND REMAIN IN THE COMMUNITY FOR AS LONG AS POSSIBLE.
"WHERE NECESSARY, RESIDENTIAL CARE SHOULD BE PROVIDED TO SUIT THE VARYING NEEDS OF ELDERLY PEOPLE, SHE ADDED.
BE
SHE ALSO EMPHASISED THAT THE QUESTION OF OLD AGE MUST NEVER USED TO DISQUALIFY OLD PEOPLE ON THE BASIS OF AGE FROM EXERCISING THEIR RIGHTS.
"LAWS REGARDING CONSENT SHOULD BE JUDICIOUSLY CARRIED OUT, AND TESTS FOR COMPETENCY OF THE FRAIL AND VULNERABLE SHOULD GIVE THE ELDERLY THE MAXIMUM ABILITY TO PARTICIPATE IN THE DECISION MAKING PROCESS.
"THE RIGHT OF FREEDOM-TO-CHOOSE AND ACCESS TO INFORMATION SHOULD BE GUARANTEED, 90 THAT THE FRAIL AND THE VULNERABLE MAY ENJOY THE PROTECTION AS PROMULGATED IN THE LAW OF THE LAND, SHE SAID.
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TURNING TO THE HONG KONG PERSPECTIVE, SHE NOTED THAT ITS SERVICES FOR THE ELDERLY PEOPLE WERE EXPANDED ON A WIDE FRONT, WITH THE OBJECT OF PROVIDING THEIR WELFARE THROUGH. CARE IN AND BY THE COMMUNITY.
"WE HAVE ACCEPTED THAT THERE IS A NEED, AS IN MANY COUNTRIES IN THE WEST, FOR THE COMMUNITY TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE WELL-BEING OF THE ELDERLY IN ALL ASPECTS OF THEIR LIVING ΤΟ ENABLE THEM TO RETAIN THEIR SELF-RESPECT AND TO REMAIN IN THE COMMUNITY FOR AS LONG AS POSSIBLE.
"WHERE NECESSARY, RESIDENTIAL CARE IS PROVIDED ΤΟ SUIT THE
VARYING NEEDS OF THIS AGE GROUP, SHE SAID.
SHE NOTED THAT UNDER THE GUIDING PRINCIPLE OF CARE. IN COMMUNITY, STRATEGY HAD BEEN THREE-FOLD:
THE
TO PROVIDE A RANGE OF COMMUNITY SERVICES AND IMPROVED CASH BENEFITS THAT WILL ENCOURAGE FAMILIES TO LOOK AFTER THEIR ELDERLY MEMBERS, OR WHICH WILL ENABLE OLD PEOPLE TO LIVE INDEPENDENTLY AND IN DIGNITY IN THE COMMUNITY;
TO PROVIDE RESIDENTIAL INSTITUTIONAL FACILITIES FOR THOSE WHO, FOR HEALTH OR OTHER REASONS, CAN NO LONGER LIVE WITH THEIR FAMILIES OR ON THEIR OWN; AND
OF AGING AND PRODUCTIVE BUT ALSO FOR
TO PROMOTE A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THE PROCESS SO THAT OLD AGE CAN BECOME A MORE POSITIVE PERIOD, NOT ONLY FOR THE ELDERLY THEMSELVES, THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE.
/SHE WENT