(a)
(b)
86
of the implementation date of the Ordinance; and
whether compliance with the legislative requirements by private residential care homes will result in an increase in their operating costs; if so, whether the Government will consider providing financial assistance to the operators of these homes to meet the increased costs or to the residents to meet any consequential increase in charges?
Reply:
The reply is as follows:
(a)
(b)
The Residential Care Homes (Elderly Persons) Ordinance (90 of 1994), except for section 6, will come into operation on 1 April 1995.
The Ordinance will regulate homes established for the residential care of elderly persons with the purpose of ensuring that these homes provide services of a reasonable standard. As a result of the Ordinance coming into effect, some existing residential care homes for the elderly will have to improve their space requirements, staffing ratios, fire safety measures and building services in order to comply with the licensing standards. Such measures will inevitably cause an increase in operating costs. Assistance to operators and residents of homes to meet such increases will be provided in the following ways -
(1) Operators may apply for up to 60% of the cost of the improvement works entailed from a $50 million financial assistance scheme. This scheme was established on the basis of recommendations made by the Working Group on Care for the Elderly. It is designed to encourage self-financing and private homes to remain in operation while meeting the improved standards.
(2)
Residents of private homes for the elderly who are recipients of Comprehensive Social Security Assistance (CSSA) payments and who have difficulties in meeting increased fees resulting from the costs associated with necessary improvements will be assisted through special discretionary grants made under the CSSA Scheme,
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