XN000022-1983-05-06 — Page 8

FRIDAY, MAY 6, 1983

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IMPORTANCE OF CARE FOR MENTALLY HANDICAPPED STRESSED

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WITH PROPER CARE AND TRAINING, MANY SEVERELY MENTALLY HANDICAPPED PEOPLE CAN MAKE SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THEIR FACULTIES AND CAPABILITIES.

THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE, MR JOHN CHAMBERS, MADE THIS REMARK TODAY (FRIDAY) WHEN HE OPENED THE SHUN LEE ADULT TRAINING CENTRE RUN BY THE SOCIETY OF HOMES FOR THE HANDICAPPED.

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WHILE THE NUMBER OF SUCH PEOPLE IN HONG KONG IS NOT CERTAIN, HE SAID THAT THE EXPERIENCE OF OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD SUGGESTED THERE MIGHT WELL BE OVER 2 000 SEVERELY MENTALLY HANDICAPPED ADULTS.

OF THESE, IT IS THOUGHT THAT ABOUT ONE-THIRD ALSO SUFFER FROM PHYSICAL ABNORMALITIES OR DISABILITIES AND NEED HOSPITAL CARE.

+ IT IS OUR FIRM BELIEF THAT THE RANGE OF ABILITY WITHIN THE CATEGORY OF SEVERE MENTAL HANDICAP IS VERY WIDE,+ MR CHAMBERS SAID.

THE GOVERNMENT'S PRESENT PLANS SEEK TO CATER FOR THE TWO-THIRDS WHO DO NOT NEED HOSPITAL CARE, HE SAID, ADDING THAT SOME WOULD NEED BOARDING SCHOOLS OR HOMES.

+BUT WE ALSO HOPE THAT THROUGH THE PROVISION OF DAY CARE SUPPORT SERVICES, MANY SUCH PEOPLE WILL BE ABLE TO REMAIN IN THE COMMUNITY WITH THEIR FAMILIES, HE SAID.

TURNING TO RESIDENTIAL CARE FOR SEVERELY MENTALLY HANDICAPPED ADULTS, MR CHAMBERS ESTIMATED THAT THERE WAS A DEMAND FOR SOME 750 PLACES AT PRESENT.

OF THE 158 PLACES THAT ARE NOW AVAILABLE, 142 ARE PROVIDED BY THE SOCIETY OF HOMES FOR THE HANDICAPPED.

+THERE CAN BE NO DOUBT ABOUT THE NEED FOR RESIDENTIAL CARE

FOR SEVERELY MENTALLY HANDICAPPED ADULTS.

+IN MANY CASES THIS PROTECTS THE INTERESTS OF THE MENTALLY HANDICAPPED THEMSELVES THEIR FAMILIES, NO MATTER HOW WELL-INTENTIONED, MAY BE UNABLE TO CATER TO THE NEEDS, PERHAPS BECAUSE THE PARENTS THEMSELVES ARE ELDERLY OR IN POOR HEALTH, + HE SAID.

+IN A RESIDENTIAL SETTING, HOWEVER, UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF TRAINED WORKERS, IT IS POSSIBLE NOT ONLY TO MEET THE DAILY LIVING NEEDS OF THE MENTALLY HANDICAPPED, BUT ALSO TO PROVIDE STIMULATION AND WORK ACTIVITY PROGRAMMES SPECIALLY DESIGNED TO DEVELOP THEIR SKILLS AND TO INCREASE THEIR INTEREST IN THE WORLD AROUND THEM,+ HE ADDED.

MR CHAMBERS PAID TRIBUTE TO THE SOCIETY WHICH, HE SAID, IS ENGAGED IN ONE OF THE MOST DIFFICULT AREAS OF SOCIAL WORK AND ITS EFFORTS DESERVE OUR FULL SUPPORT+.

THE SOCIETY HAS DEVELOPED FOUR RESIDENTIAL HOMES FOR SEVERELY MENTALLY HANDICAPPED ADULTS IN THE PAST 5-1/2 YEARS.