MONDAY, APRIL 24, 1989
SWAC DISCUSSES TWO PAPERS
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THE BOUGHT PLACES SCHEME FOR RESIDENTIAL PLACES IN PRIVATE
HOMES FOR THE ELDERLY WAS DISCUSSED AT TILE SOCIAL WELFARE ADVISORY COMMITTEE (SWAC) TODAY (MONDAY).
THE MEETING FELT THE PROPOSAL WAS FEASIBLE, HOWEVER, NO DECISION WAS REACHED ON WHETHER THE SCHEME SHOULD PROCEED IMMEDIATELY AS THERE COULD BE OTHER OPTIONS TO EASE THE SHORTFALLS OF RESIDENTIAL PLACES FOR THE ELDERLY.
THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT WILL PROVIDE INFORMATION FOR THE NEXT SWAC MEETING.
RELEVENT
IT AIMS
THE BOUGHT PLACES SCHEME IS A DUAL-PURPOSE PROJECT. TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF RESIDENTIAL PLACES, THROUGH THE USE OF PRIVATE HOMES, TO ACCOMMODATE THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN REGISTERED WITH THE CENTRAL WAITING LIST OF THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT FOR ADMISSION TO ELDERLY HOMES.
IT ALSO TIES IN WITH THE VOLUNTARY REGISTRATION OF PRIVATE ELDERLY HOMES SCHEME TO PROVIDE AN INCENTIVE TO OPERATORS OF PRIVATE HOMES TO RAISE THEIR SERVICES STANDARDS TO AN ACCEPTABLE LEVEL.
CURRENTLY, THE GOVERNMENT PROVIDES 1.860 SUBVENTED CARE AND ATTENTION PLACES AND 5,759 SUBVENTED AGED HOME PLACES FOR ELDERLY PEOPLE.
IT IS ANTICIPATED THAT AN ADDITIONAL PROVISION OF AROUND 1,700 PLACES IN CARE AND ATTENTION HOMES AND 1,700 PLACES IN HOMES FOR THE AGED WILL BE AVAILABLE BY 1990/91, BUT THIS WILL STILL FALL FAR SHORT OF DEMAND.
TO TACKLE THE PROBLEM, SWD
PROPOSED THAT PLACES IN PRIVATE HOMES BE BOUGHT FOR ELDERLY PERSONS ON THE SWD CENTRAL WAITING LIST.
THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE, MRS ELIZABETH WONG INFORMED THE MEETING THAT THE DEPARTMENT WAS CONSIDERING FURTHER USE OF DISCRETIONARY GRANTS UNDER THE PUBLIC ASSISTANCE SCHEME то ENABLE ELDERLY RECIPIENTS OF PUBLIC ASSISTANCE WHO WERE ON THE SWD CENTRAL WAITING LIST TO MAKE USE OF THE FACILITIES OF REGISTERED PRIVATE HOMES.
SHE SAID THAT, AS FAR AS POSSIBLE, ARRANGEMENTS WOULD BE MADE TO AVOID ELDERLY PERSONS BEING ACCOMMODATED IN HOMES SITUATED FAR AWAY FROM THEIR RELATIVES, AND EFFORTS WOULD BE MADE ΤΟ DISTRIBUTE SUCH PLACES THROUGHOUT THE TERRITORY AND ΤΟ REFRAIN FROM CONCENTRATING THE BOUGHT PLACES IN ONLY A FEW HOMES.
SWAC MEMBERS ALSO ENDORSED AN INTERIM PROGRESS REPORT PREPARED BY THE CENTRAL COMMITTEE ON SERVICES FOR THE ELDERLY.
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