XN000022-1983-06-29 — Page 33

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 29, 1983

31

+ELDERLY NEED A DIFFERENT MIX OF SERVICES+

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THERE IS A NEED TO RECOGNISE THAT THE GROWING PROPORTION OF ELDERLY PEOPLE IN HONG KONG WILL REQUIRE A DIFFERENT MIX OF SOCIAL SERVICES IN THE FUTURE, THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE, MR JOHN CHAMBERS, SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

SPEAKING AT A LUNCHEON MEETING OF THE ASSOCIATION OF PAST CHAIRMEN OF THE TUNG WAH GROUP OF HOSPITALS, HE SAID THAT RAPID URBANISATION AND PARTICULARLY THE PRESSURE ON LIVING ACCOMMODATION OVER THE LAST 20 YEARS HAD MADE IT VERY DIFFICULT, IF NOT IMPOSSIBLE, FOR MANY FAMILIES TO CONTINUE THE EXTENDED FAMILY SYSTEM.

OTHER SOCIOLOGICAL CHANGES HAD ALSO CONTRIBUTED THE DECAY OF THIS SYSTEM, HE ADDED.

+IT HAS THEREFORE HAD TO BE ACCEPTED THAT, AS IN OTHER COUNTRIES, THE COMMUNITY NEEDS TO ASSUME A MUCH LARGER PART OF THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE CARE OF THE ELDERLY, HE SAID.

MR CHAMBERS SAID RECENT STUDIES HAD SHOWN THAT THE GREAT MAJORITY OF ELDERLY PEOPLE IN HONG KONG DID RECEIVE A GREAT DEAL OF HELP FROM RELATIVES AND FRIENDS.

+BUT THERE ARE QUITE A LARGE NUMBER OF CASES IN WHICH FOR ONE REASON OR ANOTHER OLD PEOPLE DO NEED HELP FROM WELFARE ORGANISATIONS IF THEY ARE TO BE ABLE TO CONTINUE TO LIVE SATISFACTORILY ON THEIR OWN, HE SAID.

THE AIM

FOR THOSE WHO ARE STILL ACTIVE AND ABLE TO GET ABOUT, IS TO PROVIDE SOCIAL CENTRES IN EACH DISTRICT. EVENTUALLY THERE WILL BE MORE THAN 180 SUCH CENTRES THROUGHOUT HONG KONG.

FOR THOSE WHO NEED MORE HELP, THERE ARE MULTI-SERVICE CENTRES WHERE THEY CAN HAVE A MEAL OR A BATH OR TAKE ADVANTAGE OF A RANGE OF OTHER SERVICES AND ACTIVITIES.

+A TOTAL OF 24 SUCH CENTRES ARE PLANNED, MR CHAMBERS SAID.

HE SAID A MOST IMPORTANT ASPECT OF THE ASSISTANCE PROVIDED TO ENABLE THE ELDERLY TO REMAIN INDEPENDENT FOR AS LONG AS POSSIBLE WAS THE HOME HELP SERVICE, WHICH ENABLED THEM TO COPE WITH THEIR DIFFICULTIES IN COOKING, LAUNDRY, PERSONAL HYGIENE AND HOME MANAGEMENT.

REFERRING TO THE PROBLEM OF FINDING SUITABLE ACCOMMODATION FOR THE ELDERLY, MA CHAMBERS SAID THAT WE NOW HAVE A MUCH WIDER RANGE OF FACILITIES.+

THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT OPERATES A SCHEME WHICH ENABLES GROUPS OF THREE SINGLE ELDERLY PEOPLE TO OCCUPY FLATS IN HOUSING ESTATES.

THERE ARE ALSO HOSTELS RUN BY VOLUNTARY AGENCIES WHICH PROVIDE SELF-CATERING ACCOMMODATION FOR ELDERLY PEOPLE.

/ A NEW