XN000022-1977-11-11 — Page 3

HOUSING

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FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 1977

IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT THE HOUSING AUTHORITY'S OFFER TO ACCOMMODATE UP TO 10,000 OLD PEOPLE, INCLUDING 5,000 IN NEW HOSTELS OVER THE NEXT TEN YEARS SHOULD BE ACCEPTED BUT IT IS NECESSARY TO REVIEW THE SERVICES PROVIDED BY CHAI-TONGS' - LITERALLY VEGETARIAN HALLS OPERATED BY RELIGIOUS BODIES OR INDIVIDUALS, IN ACCOMMODATING OLD PEOPLE.

OTHER SUPPORT SERVICES

THE GREEN PAPER RECOMMENDS THAT SUPPORT SERVICES SHOULD BE PROVIDED IN THE SPHERES OF EMPLOYMENT, TRANSPORT, AND LEISURE ACTIVITIES. THESE SERVICES WILL HELP OLD PEOPLE TO PLAY AS ACTIVE A ROLE WITHIN THE COMMUNITY AS IS POSSIBLE.

INSTITUTIONAL CARE

THE CONCEPT OF CARE IN THE COMMUNITY' DOES NOT DO AWAY WITH THE NEED FOR INSTITUTIONAL CARE. MANY OLD PEOPLE, BECAUSE OF INCREASING FRAILTY OR THE LACK OF ANYONE TO LOOK AFTER THEM, MAY FIND CARE IN THE COMMUNITY NEITHER VIABLE NOR SATISFACTORY. IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT BY 1986/87 THERE SHOULD BE 10 PLACES PER THOUSAND AGED 60 OR OVER IN HOMES FOR THE AGED AND FOUR PLACES PER THOUSAND AGED 60 OR OVER IN CARE-AND-ATTENTION HOMES.

COMMENTING ON THESE PROPOSALS IN THE GREEN PAPER,

MR. JIMMY SWEETMAN, DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE, SAID THAT THE EFFECTIVENESS OF ANY SERVICE FOR THE ELDERLY MUST RELY ON THE EXISTENCE OF A 'CAR ING COMMUNITY',

THE GOVERNMENT AND VOLUNTARY AGENCIES ARE THE 'FORMAL PROVIDERS' OF A RANGE OF SERVICES BUT THE ELDERLY INDIVIDUAL COMES IN CONTACT WITH MANY OTHERS IN THE COURSE OF HIS DAY-TO-DAY LIFE - HIS FAMILY, HIS NEIGHBOURS, THOSE WITH WHOM HE WORKS, ORGANISATIONS SUCH AS CHURCHES OR COMMUNITY ASSOCIATIONS WHICH INVOLVE THEMSELVES IN LOOKING AFTER THE ELDERLY.

+THESE PEOPLE CAN DO A GREAT DEAL TO SUSTAIN OLD PEOPLE'S SELF-RESPECT AND SOCIAL INTEGRATION AND THUS TO ENABLE THE ELDERLY TO RETAIN A GENERAL SENSE OF SATISFACTION AND FULFILMENT IN THE EVENING OF THEIR LIVES, HE ADDED.

MR. SWEETMAN NOTED THAT THE OVERALL OBJECTIVE OF THIS GREEN PAPER IS THEREFORE +TO PROMOTE THE WELL-BEING OF THE ELDERLY IN ALL ASPECTS OF THEIR LIVING BY PROVIDING SERVICES THAT WILL ENABLE THEM TO REMA IN MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY FOR AS LONG AS POSSIBLE AND TO THE EXTENT NECESSARY, TO PROVIDE RESIDENTIAL CARE SUITED TO THE VARYING NEEDS OF THE ELDERLY+,

/HE EXPLAINED