XN000022-1996-05-01 — Page 32

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During the recent cold spell which a number of members alluded to, a lot of concern was expressed about the importance of providing elderly people, especially those living alone, with an efficient means of calling for help in case of emergency. Under the CSSA scheme, elderly persons who need a telephone are eligible to receive a special grant for this purpose. The grants cover both the installation cost and monthly charges. To ensure that elderly people at risk are aware of this assistance, the Director of Social Welfare has just started a new initiative whereby his staff will pro- actively visit elderly CSSA recipients living alone to inform them about this special grant and to assist them in applying for it.

In meeting our health needs of the elderly, many members have also commented on this very important aspect of care for the elderly. To care for the health of our elderly population, we have a comprehensive system of health and medical facilities. People aged 65 and above are by far the biggest user of public medical and health services vis-à-vis patients of other age groups. The total attendance of patients in the General Outpatient Clinics under the Department of Health totals over 5 million in 1995 and 34% of these are patients aged 65 and above. The total bed-days for patients in public hospitals were 6.9 million in 1995 and 39% of those were for elderly patients. They also constitute an estimated 32% of the total number of patients attending the Medical, Surgery and Orthopaedic outpatient clinics. The Hon Fred Lee and others commented on dental care need for the elderly. As for dental care, the financially disadvantaged elderly who are eligible for CSSA, can seek treatment at non-profit making dental clinics designated by the Social Welfare Department and their fees are reimbursed through the CSSA scheme.

In order to improve our medical and health facilities for the elderly, a range of new services has been developed exclusively to care for the health of elderly people in the past few years. These include the setting up of seven elderly health centres by 1997 to provide and promote preventive health care for elderly people aged 65 and above. So far, four centres have been brought into operation and another three will be opened this year. These new centres will be set up within general outpatient clinics to provide a more integrated service to meet needs of elderly patients. In addition, the Hospital Authority has set up seven community geriatric and one psychogeriatric assessment teams to provide outreaching medical services to elderly people residing in residential care institutions. These teams undertake geriatric assessment to ensure proper placement of elderly patients who need residential care. They also provide specialist support in the form of medical/nursing care and rehabilitation service for elderly persons in care-and-attention homes. One additional community geriatric team and three psychogeriatric teams will be set up this year. These geriatric assessment clinics will also be set up in the various hospital clusters to provide outpatient medical services to the elderly in our community.