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FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 1989
ELDERLY'S WAS THE
SHE POINTED OUT THAT A REASON FOR SOME TOWARDS STAYING IN RESIDENTIAL INSTITUTIONS SEGREGATION FROM RELATIVES AND FRIENDS AS MOST OF THESE WERE SITUATED IN REMOTER PARTS OF THE TERRITORY.
RESISTANCE FEELING OF INSTITUTIONS
"DUE TO THE LIMITED LAND SUPPLY, WHAT WE CAN DO IS ΤΟ PROVIDE SERVICES WHERE SPACE IS AVAILABLE. MRS WONG EXPLAINED.
ARE TWO
'COMMUNITY CARE SERVICES AND RESIDENTIAL FACILITIES CATEGORIES OF SERVICES PROVIDED FOR THE ELDERLY UNDER THE EXISTING GOVERNMENT POLICY,
tu
SITES WERE AVAILABLE, THEY WERE COMMUNITY SUPPORT SERVICES WHICH AS SOCIAL CENTRES AND DAY CARE
SHE NOTED THAT WHENEVER USUALLY ALLOCATED то RENDERING INCLUDED DAY CARE FACILITIES SUCH CENTRES, HOME HELP SERVICE AND PERSONAL COUNSELLING.
HAVE TO
"THIS IS BECAUSE BASICALLY COMMUNITY SUPPORT SERVICES BE PROVIDED WITHIN THE COMMUNITY ELDERLY PEOPLE ARE LIVING IN AND THESE FACILITIES USUALLY REQUIRE LESS SPACE, SHE SAID.
*
"HENCE. RESIDENTIAL INSTITUTIONS WILL THEN HAVE TO BE LOCATED
IN RURAL AREAS AND NEW TOWNS."
HOWEVER, MRS WONG POINTED OUT THAT AT PRESENT THE GOVERNMENT MIGHT BE ABLE TO ACHIEVE THE AIM OF REGIONALISING THE RESIDENTIAL SERVICES.
"AS THE NUMBERS OF EXISTING AND PLANNED UNITS PROVIDING COMMUNITY SUPPORT SERVICES HAVE NEARLY REACHED OUR TARGET. WE MAY NOW HAVE SPARE CAPACITY TO ACHIEVE OUR GOAL OF REGIONALISING THE RESIDENTIAL SERVICES," SHE SAID.
MRS WONG SAID IT WAS ALSO HOPED THAT THE VARIOUS KINDS OF RESIDENTIAL SERVICES COULD BE MADE AVAILABLE WITHIN ONE INSTITUTION OR IN INSTITUTIONS OF THE SAME NEIGHBOURHOOD.
"FOR EXAMPLE. WHEN RESIDENTS OF AN INSTITUTION ARE IN NEED OF NURSING SERVICE DUE TO DECLINING HEALTH, THEY CAN OBTAIN IT WITHIN THE SAME INSTITUTION WITHOUT HAVING TO BE TRANSFERRED TO ANOTHER INSTITUTION WHICH IS LOCATED IN A COMMUNITY THEY ARE UNFAMILIAR WITH.
"WE HOPE TO INTRODUCE THIS NEW MEASURE AT A LIMITED SCALE NEXT YEAR. AND TO EXPAND IT IF RESOURCES ARE AVAILABLE. SHE ADDED.
NOTING THAT ELDERLY SERVICES HAD MADE GREAT 1MPROVEMENTS OVER
THE THE LAST DECADE, SHE CALLED ON VOLUNTARY AGENCIES AND CONTINUE RENDERING THEIR SUPPORT AND CO-OPERATION.
PUBLIC
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