XN000022-1989-10-22 — Page 4

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 22. 1989

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BETTER FINANCIAL AND COMMUNITY SUPPORT FOR THE ELDERLY

* *

THE GOVERNMENT HAS STEPPED UP EXPANSION ON VARIOUS COMMUNITY SUPPORTIVE SERVICES IN ADDITION TO IMPROVED FINANCIAL AIDS FOR THE ELDERLY. THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE. MR ALFRED CHUI, SAID TODAY SUNDAY).

SPEAKING AT THE OPENING CEREMONY OF THE METHODIST SOUTHORN CENTRE FOR THE ELDERLY. MR CHUI POINTED OUT THAT THESE SERVICES INCLUDED STRENGTHENING OF HOME HELP SERVICES AND SETTING UP MORE SOCIAL CENTRES. DAY-CARE CENTRES AND MULTI-SERVICE CENTRES FOR THE ELDERLY.

"THE GOVERNMENT HAS ALWAYS BEEN VERY KEEN ON SERVICES ELDERLY. AND WE MAY TRACE BACK TO 1973 WHEN A WORKING PARTY UP TO STUDY THE SOCIAL NEEDS OF THE ELDERLY.' HE SAID.

FOR THE WAS SET

OLD AGE

IT WAS RECKONED THAT THE PROBLEMS CONNECTED WITH COULD NOT BE SATISFACTORILY TACKLED UNLESS THE COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE WAS WILLING AND ABLE ΤΟ FOSTER A CARING ROLE. MR CHUI EXPLAINED.

FROM THE THE ELDERLY AVAILABLE,

"INSTITUTIONAL CARE. WHICH MAY SEGREGATE THE ELDERLY ENVIRONMENT THEY ARE FAMILIAR WITH. MAY BE PROVIDED TO ONLY AS A LAST RESORT WHEN OTHER ALTERNATIVES ARE NOT MR CHUI SAID.

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"DURING THE LAST TWO YEARS. THE GOVERNMENT HAS SET UP A CENTRAL COMMITTEE ON SERVICES FOR THE ELDERLY AND A WORKING GROUP ON HOUSING FOR THE ELDERLY WHICH REVIEWED RELATED SERVICES AND PROVIDED A NUMBER OF RECOMMENDATIONS.

"THESE INCLUDED THE IMPLEMENTATION OF RESPITE SERVICES AND OUTREACHING SERVICES: SPEEDING UP THE PROVISION OF DAY-CARE CENTRES AND SOCIAL CENTRES FOR THE ELDERLY: CATERING FOR THE NEEDS AND IMPROVING THE STANDARD OF SERVICES FOR THE ELDERLY IN PUBLIC HOUSING ESTATES: AND STEPPING UP COMMUNITY EDUCATION ON THE CONCEPT OF *CARE IN THE COMMUNITY' HE SAID.

MR CHUI COMMENDED THE METHODIST CENTRE FOR ITS ZEALOUS EFFORTS IN THE PROVISION OF SERVICES FOR THE ELDERLY. AT PRESENT. THE METHODIST SOUTHORN CENTRE FOR THE ELDERLY HAS AN ENROLMENT OF ABOUT 260.

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