XN000022-1982-04-07 — Page 4

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 7, 1982

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HEALTH SERVICE FOR ELDERLY TO BE IMPROVED

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THE GOVERNMENT HAS BEEN TAKING STEPS TO IMPROVE SERVICE FOR THE ELDERLY POPULATION IN HONG KONG WHICH WILL SEE GERIATRIC BEDS IN GOVERNMENT AND SUBVENTED HOSPITALS MORE THAN TREBLED DURING THE DECADE.

THIS WAS STATED BY THE KOWLOON REGIONAL DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT, DR LAWRENCE LAI, IN HIS OPENING REMARKS THIS AFTERNOON AT A SEMINAR TO MARK THE WORLD HEALTH DAY.

THE SEMINAR WAS ORGANISED BY THE KWUN TONG COMMUNITY HEALTH PROJECT AND WAS ATTENDED BY MEMBERS OF THE MEDICAL AND ALLIED PROFESSIONS.

AT PRESENT THERE ARE 365 GERIATRIC BEDS IN BOTH GOVERNMENT AND SUBVENTED HOSPITALS PROVIDING ACUTE AND CONTINUING MEDICAL CARE FOR THE ELDERLY.

BY THE END OF THE DECADE ANOTHER 800 OR MORE BEDS WILL BE MADE AVAILABLE IN VARIOUS PUBLIC HOSPITALS, SAID DR LAI.

HE SAID THAT IN ORDER TO PROVIDE AN INTEGRATED GERIATRIC HEALTH CARE, EXPANSION IN OTHER EQUALLY IMPORTANT AREAS, SUCH AS REINFORCEMENT OF HEALTH EDUCATION SERVICE, COMMUNITY NURSING SERVICE, GERIATRIC OUTPATIENT SERVICE AND ADDITION OF GERIATRIC DAY HOSPITAL PLACES, WAS ALSO BEING PLANNED.

DR LAI POINTED OUT THAT HONG KONG IS EXPERIENCING A SER JOUS PROBLEM OF AGED POPULATION COMPELLED TO RELY MORE AND MORE ON GOVERNMENT FOR SUPPORT.

THE SIZE OF THIS SECTOR OF THE POPULATION IS GROWING DUE TO THE LONGER LIFE EXPECTANCY AND FALLING FERTILITY RATE.

ALSO, WITH INCREASING URBANISATION AND INDUSTRIALISATION, ENVIRONMENTAL CONSTRAINTS AND WESTERN INFLUENCES, THE TRADITIONALLY TIGHTLY KNITTED CHINESE FAMILY TIE IS GRADUALLY BREAKING DOWN, HE SAID.

HOWEVER, DR LAI POINTED OUT THE SITUATION COULD BE ALLEVIATED PARTLY BY GOVERNMENT'S EXPANSION OF GERIATRIC SERVICE AND PARTLY BY A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THE HEALTH PROBLEMS OF OLD AGE.

HE FURTHER STRESSED THAT TO BE ADVANCING IN YEARS DID NOT, AS MANY PEOPLE THINK, MEAN ILLNESS AND NON-PRODUCTIVITY.

+ONE CAN REMAIN HEALTHY AND ACTIVE IF ONE UNDERSTANDS THE COMMON HEALTH PROBLEMS IN OLD AGE, HE ADDED.