XN000022-1986-11-12 — Page 21

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 12,

1986

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LONG-TERM DEVELOPMENT PLAN ON ELDERLY SERVICES NEEDED *****

GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS AND VOLUNTARY AGENCIES SHOULD WITHOUT FURTHER DELAY WORK TOGETHER TO FORMULATE A COMPREHENSIVE POLICY AND A LONG-TERM PLAN ON PROVIDING SERVICES FOR THE ELDERLY.

THIS CALL WAS MADE BY DR THE HON CHIU HIN-KWONG DURING THE ADJOURNMENT DEBATE ON CARE AND SERVICES FOR THE ELDERLY IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

DR CHIU SAID OLD PEOPLE HAD A VARIETY OF NEEDS WHICH COULD ONLY BE MET BY THE JOINT EFFORTS OF DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS USING A MULTI-DISCIPLINE APPROACH.

HE SAID HE HOPED THE GOVERNMENT WOULD CAREFULLY CONSIDER THE PROGRAMME PLAN FOR THE ELDERLY SO AS TO PRODUCE A FUNDAMENTAL SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM.

+ THE PROVISION OF SERVICES FOR THE ELDERLY SHOULD AIM AT ENABLING THEM TO LEAD A DIGNIFIED AND MEANINGFUL LIFE.

+THESE SERVICES WOULD NOT HAVE SERVED THE PURPOSE IF THEY MERELY ALLOW OUR ELDERLY TO LINGER ON IN THEIR TWILIGHT YEARS,+ HE SAID.

DR CHIU NOTED THAT THE OMELCO HEALTH SERVICES PANEL, WHEN CONSIDERING THE OCCUPATION OF HOSPITAL BEDS BY OLD PEOPLE. FOUND IT NOT TOO DIFFICULT TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM IN PRACTICAL TERMS, WHEREAS FORCING FAMILY MEMBERS TO TAKE OLD PEOPLE BACK FOR HOME CARE MIGHT LEAD TO UNPREDICTABLE RESULTS.

+THE OCCUPATION OF HOSPITAL BEDS BY OLD PEOPLE IS ESSENTIALLY THE OPEN AND PRACTICAL MANIFESTATION OF A HIDDEN PROBLEM,+ HE SAID.

HE STRESSED THAT UNLESS THE LACK OF SERVICES FOR THE ELDERLY WAS SOLVED THE OCCUPATION OF HOSPITAL BEDS WOULD CONTINUE.

HE SAID HE BELIEVED THAT ADEQUATE COMMUNITY NURSING SERVICES MIGHT HELP IMPROVE THE BED OCCUPATION SITUATION.

DR CHIU ALSO POINTED OUT THAT IN ORDER TO ACHIEVE THE OBJECTIVE OF ENABLING OLD PEOPLE TO REMAIN AN INTERGRAL PART OF THE COMMUNITY, IT WAS ESSENTIAL THAT EMPLOYMENT ADVISORY SERVICES BE INTRODUCED AND MORE JOB OPPORTUNITIES AND SHELTERED WORKSHOP FACILITIES BE PROVIDED.

HE ADDED THAT ADJUSTMENTS TO THE FACILITIES AND APPLICATION CRITERIA FOR PUBLIC HOUSING AND HOME OWNERSHIP SCHEMES SHOULD BE MADE BEFORE PROMOTING THE CARE IN THE COMMUNITY PLAN+.

+IF WE SIMPLY IGNORE THE EXISTENCE OF OLD PEOPLE WHEN PLANNING OUR HOUSING, OUR EFFORTS WILL BE WASTED NO MATTER HOW HARD WE TRY TO PROMOTE THE CARE IN COMMUNITY CONCEPT, + HE SAID.

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