XN000022-1992-04-08 — Page 17

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WEDNESDAY, APRIL 8, 1992

CONCERNING THE VOLUNTARY REGISTRATION SCHEME FOR PRIVATE HOMES, MRS WONG SAID 33 PRIVATE HOMES WERE REGISTERED UNDER THE SCHEME AS AT MARCH 31, THIS YEAR AND THE GOVERNMENT IS SATISFIED WITH THE SERVICES PROVIDED BY THESE REGISTERED PRIVATE HOMES.

THE

BOUGHT PLACE SCHEME FOR PRIVATE HOMES FOR THE ELDERLY WAS INTRODUCED AS AN EXPERIMENT IN OCTOBER 1989 TO PROVIDE FINANCIAL INCENTIVES ΤΟ REGISTERED PRIVATE HOMES IN ORDER TO RAISE THEIR STANDARD OF SERVICE AND TO INCREASE THE OVERALL SUPPLY OF ACCOMMODATION FOR THE ELDERLY.

RESIDENTIAL

AS AT MARCH 31, 477 PLACES WERE BOUGHT FROM 29 REGISTERED PRIVATE HOMES AND A FURTHER 23 PLACES WILL BE BOUGHT IN THE NEAR FUTURE.

DOWN SINCE BECAUSE OF

MRS WONG NOTED THAT 117 PRIVATE HOMES HAD CLOSED JUNE 1988 FOR VARIOUS REASONS, THE MAJORITY OF WHICH WAS OPERATORS' LOSS OF INTEREST IN THE BUSINESS AND INCREASED OPERATING COSTS.

"MOST OF THE ELDERLY RESIDENTS AFFECTED BY THESE CLOSURES WERE TRANSFERRED TO OTHER PRIVATE HOMES BY THEIR FAMILIES.

"GOVERNMENT ASSISTANCE WAS SOUGHT IN ONLY A SMALL NUMBER OF CASES AND THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT ASSISTED IN PLACING THE RESIDENTS IN OTHER PRIVATE HOMES OR IN SUBVENTED HOMES.

"FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE WAS ALSO PROVIDED WHERE NECESSARY,"

WONG SAID.

MRS

THE SECRETARY STRESSED THAT THE GOVERNMENT HAS LONG BEEN INVOLVED IN HELPING PRIVATE HOMES TO IMPROVE THEIR STANDARD OF SERVICE.

IMPROVEMENTS MADE INCLUDE:

A VOLUNTARY CODE OF PRACTICE FOR PRIVATE HOMES FOR THE ELDERLY WHICH SETS OUT STANDARDS FOR SPACE, STAFFING, SAFETY AND FIRE PRECAUTIONS WAS INTRODUCED IN OCTOBER 1986 AS A GUIDE TO MAINTAINING A SATISFACTORY LEVEL OF SERVICE;

THE REGISTRATION OFFICE OF PRIVATE HOMES FOR THE ELDERLY WAS ESTABLISHED IN JUNE 1988 FOR KEEPING RECORDS OF PRIVATE HOMES, CONDUCTING REGULAR INSPECTIONS AND PROVIDING ADVICE TO HOME OPERATORS;

THE VOLUNTARY REGISTRATION SCHEME AND THE BOUGHT PLACE SCHEME WERE INTRODUCED IN 1988 AND 1989 RESPECTIVELY TO HELP MAINTAIN SERVICE STANDARD AND TO PROVIDE INCENTIVES FOR PRIVATE HOMES OPERATORS TO IMPROVE THEIR SERVICES; AND

ANNUAL TRAINING COURSES FOR HEALTH WORKERS IN PRIVATE HOMES HAVE BEEN ORGANISED JOINTLY BY THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT AND THE COLLEGE OF NURSING, HONG KONG SINCE 1988.

"LEGISLATION WILL ALSO BE INTRODUCED ΤΟ REGULATE ALL RESIDENTIAL CARE HOMES FOR THE ELDERLY IN THE NEXT LEGISLATIVE SESSION ΤΟ ENSURE COMPLIANCE WITH SPECIFIED MINIMUM STANDARDS, ADDED.

MRS WONG

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