XN000022-1993-12-08 — Page 14

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WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 8, 1993

SPEECH BY ACTING SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE DR

IN MOTION DEBATE ON CARE-AND-ATTENTION HOMES IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

S H LEE

MR PRESIDENT,

PRESENT POLICY

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OUR POLICY ON ELDERLY SERVICES IS TO ENCOURAGE THE CARE OF ELDERLY PEOPLE BY FAMILY MEMBERS WITHIN A FAMILY CONTEXT AND TO STRENGTHEN SUPPORT FOR CAREGIVERS. THE BROAD AIM IS TO PROMOTE THE WELL-BEING OF ELDERLY PEOPLE THROUGH CARE IN THE COMMUNITY AND BY THE COMMUNITY. TO THIS END, A RANGE OF SERVICES ARE PROVIDED ΤΟ ENABLE ELDERLY PEOPLE ΤΟ REMAIN AT HOME FOR AS LONG AS POSSIBLE AND ΤΟ PROVIDE SUPPORT AND ASSISTANCE TO CAREGIVERS. THESE SERVICES INCLUDE, FOR EXAMPLE, HOME HELP SERVICE, SOCIAL CENTRES, MULTI-SERVICE CENTRES, DAY CARE CENTRES AND FACILITIES, COMMUNITY NURSING SERVICE AND COMMUNITY PSYCHIATRIC NURSING SERVICE.

IT IS, HOWEVER, RECOGNISED THAT THE NEEDS OF ELDERLY PEOPLE VARY AND THAT RESIDENTIAL CARE MAY BE REQUIRED FOR SOME ELDERLY PEOPLE WHO CANNOT BE TAKEN CARE OF AT HOME. OUR APPROACH TO LONG-TERM RESIDENTIAL CARE FOR ELDERLY PEOPLE IS THAT IT SHOULD ONLY BE PROVIDED TO THOSE WHO HAVE A GENUINE NEED FOR SUCH CARE. ELDERLY PERSONS

LIVING IN INSTITUTIONS OFTEN FEEL ABANDONED BY THEIR FAMILIES AND ISOLATED FROM SOCIETY, ELDERLY PEOPLE SHOULD BE ENABLED TO LEAD AN INDEPENDENT AND DIGNIFIED LIFE AS PART OF THE COMMUNITY AND NOT IN ISOLATION IN AN INSTITUTION.

RESIDENTIAL CARE

FOR THOSE WHO CANNOT BE CARED FOR AT HOME, A RANGE OF RESIDENTIAL CARE FACILITIES ARE PROVIDED INCLUDING, SELF-CARE HOSTELS, HOMES FOR THE AGED, CARE-AND-ATTENTION HOMES AND INFIRMARIES.

WITH THE GROWTH OF THE ELDERLY POPULATION IN HONG KONG IN RECENT DECADES, THE DEMAND FOR RESIDENTIAL CARE SERVICES FOR ELDERLY PEOPLE IS INCREASING. AS A RESULT, THE CONSIDERABLE EXPANSION OF RESIDENTIAL CARE SERVICES IN RECENT YEARS HAS NOT BEEN ABLE то MEET DEMAND. THE SOLUTION IN THE LONG RUN IS TO PROVIDE A SYSTEM OF INTEGRATED CARE BASED PRIMARILY IN THE COMMUNITY TO ENABLE ELDERLY PEOPLE TO CONTINUE TO LIVE AT HOME WITH THEIR FAMILIES. AS AN INTERIM MEASURE, MORE RESIDENTIAL CARE PLACES WILL BE PROVIDED AND INITIATIVES WILL BE IMPLEMENTED.

NEW

/NEW INITIATIVES