XN000022-1983-04-27 — Page 9

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 27, 1983

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VISITS ALREADY MADE TO SOME OF THESE HOMES DO NOT INDICATE ANY IMMEDIATE CAUSE FOR CONCERN, HE SAID.

HE SAID THESE HOMES APPEAR TO BE MEETING A COMMUNITY NEED, PARTICULARLY FOR THE RELATIVELY BETTER-OFF FAMILIES WHO ARE NOT CATERED FOR BY SUBVENTED HOMES.+

*NO COMPLAINT HAS BEEN RECEIVED SO FAR FROM ANY RESIDENT OF THESE HOMES,+ HE ADDED.

PRIVATE RESIDENTIAL HOMES FOR THE ELDERLY ARE NOT AT PRESENT SUBJECT TO ANY SPECIFIC GOVERNMENT CONTROLS, THEY ARE SUBJECT TO THE NORMAL PROVISIONS OF THE BUILDINGS ORDINANCE WHICH APPLY TO ALL PRIVATE BUILDINGS.

MEANWHILE, A SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN, COMMENTING ON RECENT PRESS REPORTS WHICH APPEARED TO CONFUSE PRIVATE HOMES FOR THE AGED WITH SOCIAL CENTRES FOR THE ELDERLY, SAID IT WAS WRONG TO SAY THAT MANY ORGANISATIONS RUNNING THESE HOMES WERE BEING DISCOURAGED FROM OPERATING NEW ESTABLISHMENTS BECAUSE OF A CUT IN GOVERNMENT SUBSIDIES.

PRIVATE RESIDENTIAL HOMES FOR THE ELDERLY, HE SAID, ARE PROF IT-MAKING. THEY RECEIVE NO SUBVENTION FROM THE GOVERNMENT AND OPERATE IN RESPONSE TO MARKET FORCES.

ON THE OTHER HAND, SOCIAL CENTRES FOR THE ELDERLY PROVIDE SERVICES LARGELY OF A SOCIAL OR RECREATIONAL NATURE AND ARE NON-RESIDENTIAL. THEY ARE CLASSIFIED IN CATEGORY I UNDER THE NEW SUBVENTION SYSTEM, WHICH MEANS THEY RECEIVE LESS THAN 100 PER CENT SUPPORT FROM THE GOVERNMENT.

+ THE INTENTION IS TO PROMOTE THE VOLUNTARY SPIRIT BY ATTRACTING AN ELEMENT OF COMMUNITY SUPPORT FOR SUCH SERVICES ON TOP OF THE GOVERNMENT'S SUBVENTION, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

REFERRING TO PRESS REPORTS THAT THE NEW SYSTEM HAD DISCOURAGED MANY AGENCIES FROM STARTING NEW SOCIAL CENTRES FOR THE ELDERLY THE SPOKESMAN REITERATED THAT THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF THIS AND ADDED THAT THE DEPARTMENT WAS PREPARED TO GIVE SYMPATHETIC CONSIDERATION TO THE PROVISION OF ADDITIONAL SUPPORT TO ANY AGENCY WHICH EXPERIENCED GENUINE FINANCIAL DIFFICULTIES.

+THE FUTURE DEVELOPMENT OF THESE VALUABLE SERVICES IS PROCEEDING SMOOTHLY AND THE PLANNED PROVISIONS FOR 1983/84 HAVE ALL BEEN TAKEN UP BY INTERESTED AGENCIES, INCLUDING A FEW NEW ONES NOT ALREADY OPERATING SUCH SERVICES, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

HE ADDED THAT ONLY TWO OUT OF THE 30 VOLUNTARY AGENCIES WHICH RUN SOME 70 SOCIAL CENTRES FOR THE ELDERLY APPEALED OVER LAST YEAR'S ALLOCATIONS.

+THESE WERE SATISFACTORILY RESOLVED, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

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