XN000022-1986-10-29 — Page 53

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 29, 1986

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SERVICES FOR CHRONICALLY ILL ELDERLY OUTLINED

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THE RANGE OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH FACILITIES PROVIDED FOR ELDERLY PEOPLE WHO ARE CHRONICALLY ILL INCLUDES INFIRMARIES, GERIATRIC DAY HOSPITALS AND COMMUNITY NURSING SERVICE, THE SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE, THE HON JOHN CHAMBERS SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

IN A WRITTEN REPLY TO A QUESTION FROM THE HON HUI YIN-FAT, HE DESCRIBED IN DETAIL THE MEDICAL AND SUPPORT SERVICES THAT WERE BEING PLANNED AND PROVIDED FOR CHRONICALLY ILL OLD PEOPLE.

THE SERVICES INCLUDED:

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INFIRMARIES WHICH WERE INTENDED TO CATER FOR THE LONGER TERM PATIENTS WHOSE PHYSICAL AND MENTAL CONDITION REQUIRED CONSTANT NURSING CARE AND SOME MEDICAL SUPERVISION.

AT PRESENT, 1 015 INFIRMARY BEDS WERE PROVIDED IN THREE SUBVENTED HOSPITALS. A FURTHER 2 401 INFIRMARY BEDS WOULD BE PROVIDED BY 1995.

GERIATRIC DAY HOSPITALS WERE PROVIDED TO SUPPLEMENT IN- PATIENT TREATMENT, OFFERING CURATIVE AND REHABILITATIVE SERVICES TO ELDERLY PATIENTS ON A NON-RESIDENTIAL BASIS.

THESE DAY PLACES HAD THE ADDED ADVANTAGE OF RESTORING ELDERLY PATIENTS TO THEIR OWN FAMILY ENVIRONMENT AND THUS HELPING THE REHABILITATION PROCESS,

THERE WERE 120 GERIATRIC DAYPLACES PROVIDED IN FOUR GOVERNMENT INSTITUTIONS AND THERE WERE PLANS TO EXPAND THE FACILITIES BY PROVIDING ANOTHER 415 PLACES IN NINE OTHER PUBLIC HOSPITALS OR CLINICS.

COMMUNITY NURSING SERVICE (CNS) PROVIDED BOTH BASIC NURSING CARE FOR THESE PATIENTS AND ALSO ASSISTANCE ON ALL ASPECTS OF REHABILITATION AND HEALTH EDUCATION FOR PATIENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES. FORTY PER CENT OF THE

CLIENTS OF THE CNS WERE AGED 65 AND OVER.

THERE WERE AT PRESENT A TOTAL OF 45 CNS CENTRES AND HOSPITAL REFERRAL STATIONS LOCATED THROUGHOUT THE

TERRITORY. PLANS TO ESTABLISH AN ADDITIONAL 15 CENTRES WERE BEING CONSIDERED.

MR CHAMBERS SAID OTHER SUPPORT SERVICES AVAILABLE TO SUCH PEOPLE INCLUDED FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE THROUGH THE SOCIAL SECURITY SYSTEM, ACCOMMODATION OR REHOUSING ASSISTANCE, HOME HELP AND DAY CARE SERVICES, AND INSTITUTIONAL CARE IN CARE-AND-ATTENTION HOMES.

/+THESE SERVICES