XN000022-1988-01-30 — Page 6

SATURDAY, JANUARY 30

30, 1988

SERVICES FOR ELDERLY DEVELOPING IN RIGHT DIRECTION

SERVICES FOR ELDERLY PEOPLE HAVE BEEN DEVELOPING ALONG THE LINES SET DOWN IN THE 1979 WHITE PAPER ON SOCIAL WELFARE WITH INCREASES IN BOTH THE TYPES OF SERVICES OFFERED AND THE NUMBER OF ELDERLY CATERED FOR, THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE, MR STEPHEN LAW, SAID TODAY (SATURDAY)}.

FR

"THE POLICY RECOGNISES THE IMPORTANCE OF 'CARB IN THE FAMILY AND IN THE COMMUNITY' AS WELL AS THE NEED FOR RESIDENTIAL CARE, HE BAID.

MR LAW WAS SPEAKING AT THE CLOSING CEREMONY OF A 10-DAY SEMINAR, ON SERVICES FOR THE ELDERLY, ORGANISED BY THE DEPARTMENT AND THE HONG KONG SOCIETY FOR THE AGED.

HR SAID THIS TWO-PRONGED APPROACH WAS APPROPRIATE AND NECESSARY NO MATTER WHETHER FROM THE ANGLE OF VALUE FOR MONEY, EXPERIENCE, REAL NEEDS OR VIABILITY.

"BUT THE IMPORTANT THING IS THAT WHILE ENCOURAGING CARE IN THE FAMILY AND IN THE COMMUNITY, CONSTANT ATTENTION AND ASSESSMENT ARE NEEDED TO ENSURE A BALANCED DEVELOPMENT OF THESE TWO ASPECTS SO THAT THERE CAN BE TIMELY PROVISIONS TO MEET THE SERVICE NEEDS," HE ADded.

MR LAW STRESSED THAT SOCIETY COULD NOT BE EXPECTED TO TAKE OVER A FAMILY'S RESPONSIBILITY BUT, ON THE OTHER HAND, IT SHOULD BE PREPARED TO ACT IF THE FAMILY COULD NOT FULFIL ITS ROLE.

"THIS ENTAILS CONSTANT REVIEW OF CHANGES IN SOCIAL CONDITIONS AND FLEXIBLE MANIPULATION OF LIMITED RESOURCES 80 AS ΤΟ PROMOTE RESPECT FOR THE ELDERLY AND, AT THE SAME TIME, TO ENSURE PROPER CARE IS AVAILABLE TO THEM," HE SAID.

FORTUNATELY, HONG KONG'S SOCIETY WAS ONE WHICH HAD GREAT RESPECT FOR THE ELDERLY AND MANY PHILANTHROPISTS DONATIONS TOWARDS SERVICES FOR THE ELDERLY.

LIKED TO MAKE

Fr

"AS FOR THE CHILDREN, THEY NORMALLY WILL DO TAKE CARE OF THEIR PARENTS AND WILL FEEL UNEASY IF THEY CANNOT DO So,' HE SAID.

THEIR UTMOST TO FOR SOME REASONS

"WE CAN CERTAINLY DRAW ON THESE LATENT RESOURCES IN THE SOCIETY AND IN THE FAMILY.

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THEREFORE, SERVICES AND FACILITIES OTHER THAN RESIDENTIAL CARE, INCLUDING HOME HELP AND CASH ASSISTANCE, WERE VERY IMPORTANT.

AT THE SAME TIME, SOCIAL CENTRES FOR THE ELDERLY AND MULTI-SERVICE CENTRES COULD HELP THE ELDERLY TO REMAIN ACTIVE IN THE COMMUNITY.

/HOWEVER, HE