XN000022-1991-03-18 — Page 16

MONDAY, MARCH 18, 1991

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SWAC CONSIDERS LEGISLATION ON RESIDENTIAL CARE HOMES

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THE SOCIAL WELFARE ADVISORY COMMITTEE (SWAC) SUPPORTED THE LICENSING SYSTEM FOR RESIDENTIAL CARE HOMES AT ITS MEETING TODAY

(MONDAY).

SPEAKING AT THE MEETING, AN ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE, MR ALFRED CHUI, SAID THE PROPOSED LEGISLATION AIMED ΤΟ REGULATE ALL RESIDENTIAL CARE HOMES FOR THE ELDERLY IN THE PRIVATE, NON-PROFIT-MAKING AND SUBVENTED SECTORS.

THAN

THE PROPOSED LEGISLATION APPLIES то PREMISES AT WHICH MORE FIVE PERSONS WHO HAVE ATTAINED THE AGE OF 60 YEARS ARE HABITUALLY RECEIVED FOR THE PURPOSE OF CARE WHILE RESIDENT THEREIN. ALL RESIDENTIAL HOMES WILL BE SUBJECT TO INSPECTION.

"WHILE IT IS GOVERNMENT POLICY TO SUPPORT THE CARE OF THE ELDERLY IN THE FAMILY AND IN THE COMMUNITY, THERE IS NEVERTHELESS A CLEAR NEED TO PROVIDE RESIDENTIAL CARE SERVICES FOR THOSE ELDERLY PEOPLE WHO, FOR HEALTH OR OTHER REASONS, ARE UNABLE TO LOOK AFTER THEMSELVES AND WHO HAVE NO RELATIVES OR FRIENDS ΤΟ ASSIST WHEN REQUIRED, MR CHUI SAID.

Fr

AT PRESENT, THERE ARE 106 NON-PROFIT-MAKING AND SUBVENTED HOMES FOR THE ELDERLY, PROVIDING ABOUT 12,700 PLACES. EVEN So, THE DEMAND FOR PLACES IN RESIDENTIAL HOMES IS ONLY PARTIALLY MET AND THE SHORTFALL HAS LED TO THE RAPID GROWTH OF PRIVATE

HOMES, THE QUALITY OF SOME OF WHICH HAS BEEN A CAUSE FOR CONCERN.

SERVICE

MR CHUI SAID THE PROPOSED LEGISLATION REQUIRED BOTH THE OPERATOR OF A RESIDENTIAL CARE HOME AND THE HOME ITSELF ΤΟ APPLY ΤΟ THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE (DSW) FOR A LICENCE.

"IN THIS REGARD, THE DIRECTOR WILL BE GIVEN POWERS ΤΟ ISSUE, SUSPEND, AND RENEW A LICENCE," HE SAID.

ON THE SUBJECT OF EXEMPTION, MR CHUI NOTED THAT A PROVISION WOULD BE MADE TO ENABLE DSW TO ISSUE, AND RENEW, A CERTIFICATE OF EXEMPTION IN RESPECT OF A RESIDENTIAL HOME.

"THE EXEMPTION PROVISION WILL PROVIDE THE NECESSARY FLEXIBILITY TO DSW TO EXEMPT RESIDENTIAL HOMES FROM COMPLYING WITH THE MINIMUM STANDARDS FOR A PERIOD OF TIME DURING WHICH THEY WILL BE REQUIRED TO TAKE IMPROVEMENT MEASURES.

"THIS PROVISION IS NECESSARY TO ENSURE THAT THESE HOMES WILL NOT BE DRIVEN OUT OF BUSINESS WHEN THE BILL IS ENACTED то AVOID THE DISPLACEMENT OF A LARGE NUMBER OF ELDERLY RESIDENTS," HE SAID.

IN

THE PROPOSED LEGISLATION WILL BE ACCOMPANIED BY REGULATIONS RELATION TO THE LICENSING OF RESIDENTIAL CARE HOMES FOR THE OPERATION AND MANAGEMENT OF CARE HOMES, STRUCTURE AND DESIGN, HYGIRNE AND SANITATION, MINIMUM SPACE AND STAFFING STANDARDS.

HOWEVER, SWAC MEMBERS WILL FURTHER DISCUSS AT THE COMMITTEE'S NEXT MEETING IN APRIL.

THESE REQUIREMENTS

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