XCC(79)21
nursing service offers the greatest scope for improving health services for the elderly, supplemented by an expansion in day hospital places, places in care and attention homes and better health education. On the advice of the Medical Development Advisory Committee, the curre nt pilot community nursing scheme operated by voluntary agencies will be replaced from April 1979 by a fully integrated scheme within the overall medical and health services of Hong Kong, with direct Government participation. Expansion will be phased in over the next five years and the scheme will cover basic nursing care of geriatric patients and the physically and mentally handicapped as well as post-hospitalisation medical and surgical nursing care of discharged patients of all ages.
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The Medical Development Advisory Committee has also considered the Green Paper proposal for a Medical Service for old people based on the School Medical Service. The Committee feels that in view of the considerable difficulties involved in launching such a scheme and doubts about the viability of such a service, resources would be better spent in expanding the community nursing service and day hospital places as outlined in the preceding paragraph.
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To provide support for old people on their own and for families with elderly members, a range of community services will be expanded. These include home help, day care centres, multi- service centres, handicraft centre s, pre-retirement programmes and other educational programmes aimed at promoting a better understanding amongst the entire community of the problems of old age. Details are given in paragraphs 4. 14 to 4. 19 of the draft White Paper.
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As regards housing for the elderly, the majority will be re-housed as part of the Government's overall housing programme. There are an estimated 177, 000 elderly persons currently living in Housing Authority estates and it is expected that under existing criteria, a further 134, 000 old people will be re-housed by 1987/88. In addition, the Housing Authority has accepted a commitment over the next 10 years to re-house 10,000 elderly in one and two person households who are ineligible for housing under the existing criteria. The Housing Society will also assist in re-housing old people, not only through their normal housing programme but also through their "sheltered housing" scheme for old people at its Cho Yiu Chuen Estate and in future new estates. In addition, the Society has agreed to examine the possibility of providing hostel accommodation for old people in new housing projects.
C.S. 166
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