XN000022-1979-04-30 — Page 3

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MONDAY, APRIL 30, 1979

MORE INSTITUTIONS FOR THE ELDERLY

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THE NUMBER OF INSTITUTIONAL PLACES FOR THE ELDERLY WILL BE INCREASED BY +LEAPS AND BOUNDS+ WITH 21 OLD PEOPLE'S INSTITUTIONS PLANNED WITHIN THE NEXT TWO YEARS.

MRS. LOUISE WONG, PRINCIPAL SOCIAL WELFARE OFFICER (DEVELOPMENT) OF THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT, SAID TODAY (MONDAY) PLANS WERE IN HAND TO BOOST THE EXISTING PROVISION BY AN EXTRA 2,750 PLACES, OR 75 PER CENT, BY THE END OF MARCH 1981.

AT PRESENT, MRS. WONG SAID, THERE ARE 3,720 PLACES 762 IN OLD PEOPLE'S HOSTELS, 331 IN CARE AND ATTENTION HOMES AND 2,627 IN HOMES FOR THE AGED.

ALL THE 21 NEW INSTITUTIONS WILL BE RUN BY VOLUNTARY AGENCIES, MOST OF THEM WITH GOVERNMENT SUBVENTION, SHE SAID.

MRS. WONG SAID THE GOVERNMENT'S AIM IN EXPANDING SERVICES FOR THE ELDERLY IS TO ENABLE THEM TO REMAIN MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY FOR AS LONG AS POSSIBLE.

SHE POINTED OUT THAT TO MEET THIS OBJECTIVE, APART FROM QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE IMPROVEMENTS IN RESIDENTIAL CARE, THE GOVERNMENT WAS ALSO CONCERNED WITH EXPANSION IN A RANGE OF OTHER SERVICES FOR THE AGED.

THESE SERVICES, SHE SAID, INCLUDE CASH ASSISTANCE, HEALTH SERVICES, AND COMMUNITY SUPPORT SERVICES SUCH AS HOME HELP, LAUNDRY, HOUSE CLEANING AND VISITING SERVICE.

MRS. WONG SAID INSTITUTIONAL CARE WOULD BE PROVIDED WHEN THE AVAILABLE SUPPORT SERVICES COULD NOT ADEQUATELY MEET THE NEEDS OF AN OLD PERSON.

EXPLAINING THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF RESIDENTIAL CARE, SHE SAID AN OLD PEOPLE'S HOSTEL PROVIDES ACCOMMODATION IN A HOMELY SETTING FOR THOSE WHO ARE PHYSICALLY ABLE TO MANAGE THEIR OWN HOUSEHOLD WORK BUT AT THE SAME TIME ENJOYING THE COMPANY OF OTHER INMATES.

A HOME FOR THE AGED, SHE SAID, PROVIDES RESIDENTIAL FACILITIES AND MINIMAL PERSONAL CARE FOR OLD PEOPLE WHO, FOR SOCIAL REASONS SUCH AS ACCOMMODATION PROBLEMS, POOR FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS, OR INABILITY TO MANAGE DAILY CHORES, ARE UNABLE TO FUNCTION INDEPENDENTLY IN THE COMMUNITY.

A CARE AND ATTENTION HOME, ON THE OTHER HAND, PROVIDES RESIDENTIAL FACILITIES, GENERAL PERSONAL CARE AND LIMITED NURSING CARE FOR THOSE WHO REQUIRE ASSISTANCE IN DAILY LIVING ACTIVITIES, AND WHO, FOR PHYSICAL AND SOCIAL REASONS, ARE INCAPABLE OF CONTINUING TO LIVE IN THE COMMUNITY, SHE SAID.

+HEALTH PROBLEMS ARE THE PREDOMINATE REASON FOR THE ELDERLY SEEKING ENTRY TO CARE AND ATTENTION HOMES, WITH HOUSING BEING A SECONDARY CONSIDERATION, SHE ADDED.

MRS. WONG SAID THAT THE GOVERNMENT'S PLANNING OBJECTIVE IN RESIDENTIAL SERVICES FOR THE ELDERLY WAS TO GIVE PRIORITY TO THE EXPANSION OF CARE AND ATTENTION HOMES.

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