XN000022-1986-11-12 — Page 25

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 1986

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IF ACCOMMODATION UNITS AND THE RANGE OF SERVICES WERE INCREASED, MR CHUNG BELIEVED THE HEALTH OF THE ELDERLY COULD BE PROTECTED DIRECTLY AND THE DEMAND FOR HOSPITAL BEDS AND OUT-PATIENT CLINIC SERVICES WOULD BE REDUCED INDIRECTLY.

A COMPREHENSIVE MEDICAL SERVICE SCHEME COULD BE SET UP FOR THE ELDERLY IN ORDER TO STRENGTHEN THE SERVICE PROVIDED BY THE COMMUNITY NURSING CENTRES. THIS COULD BE IMPLEMENTED ON A REGIONAL BASIS.

SECONDLY, MR CHUNG PROPOSED THAT CENTRES FOR THE ELDERLY SHOULD BE DEVELOPED IN PROPORTION TO DEMOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION.

+THIS SHOULD PREFERABLY BE BASED ON AN INTEGRATION OF HOME CARE AND COMMUNITY NURSING SERVICES WHICH WOULD ENABLE THE ELDERLY WHO JOIN THE CENTRES TO SPEND THE NIGHT WITH THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS, HE SAID.

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TURNING TO GOVERNMENT'S PLAN TO SET UP ONE CENTRE FOR EVERY 30 000 ELDERLY PERSONS, MR CHUNG SAID THE SIMPLEST AND QUICKEST WAY TO MATERIALISE THIS PLAN WAS TO SELECT SUITABLE PRIVATE PREMISES FOR THE PROVISION OF HIGH-QUALITY SERVICES.

THIRDLY, MR CHUNG SAID THE STANDARD OF EQUIPMENT, STAFFING, CARE SERVICES AND SAFETY MEASURES IN PRIVATE HOMES FOR THE AGED SHOULD BE CLOSELY MONITORED.

HE SAID A CODE OF PRACTICE WHICH WAS NOT ENFORCED BY THE LAW WOULD NOT BE EFFECTIVE.

HE THEREFORE SUGGESTED THAT THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD GRANT A SPECIAL ALLOWANCE TO ELDERLY RESIDENTS IN PRIVATE HOMES PROVIDE SUBSIDIES AND ENCOURAGEMENT TO PROPERLY RUN PRIVATE HOMES AND GIVE GUIDANCE AND ASSISTANCE TO THOSE HOMES WHICH REQUIRED IMPROVEMENTS, BEFORE ENOUGH PLACES COULD BE PROVIDED BY GOVERNMENT-SUBVENTED HOMES.

+ACTUALLY, MOST OF OUR ELDERLY RESIDENTS WHO ARE OVER 60 YEARS OLD ARE STILL VERY ENERGETIC, HE SAID.

+THEY SELDOM WITHDRAW FROM TAKING PART IN ACTIVITIES EVEN AFTER THEY HAVE BEEN 'FORCED' TO RETIRE FROM WORK.+

THROUGH A SECURITY PROGRAMME FEATURING PROGRESSIVE SUBVENTION AND SUITABLE GUIDANCE, THE VALUABLE KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE OF THE VETERANS COULD TILL BENEFIT THE COMMUNITY.

MR CHUNG ALSO WELCOMED THE INTRODUCTION OF A HOUSING SCHEME FOR THE ELDERLY+ IN NEWLY COMPLETED HOUSING ESTATES.

HE ADDED THAT IT WAS HIGH TIME TO CONSIDER MAKING ARRANGEMENTS TO FURTHER RAISE THE DEPENDENT PARENT ALLOWANCE AND TO INCREASE THE AMOUNT OF PUBLIC ASSISTANCE AND OLD AGE ALLOWANCES.

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