ENG-1991 — Page 214

SOCIAL WELFARE

emphasis on the reciprocal roles and responsibilities of adolescents in the family as well as parental roles in the growth and development of adolescents. A wide variety of publicity media, including television, radio, posters, booklets on good parenting, music training courses, a lyric writing competition and a singing contest were organised. In support of the centralised publicity campaign, promotional and educational activities were organised by social workers at the district level. The Family Life Education Resource Centre plays a significant role in supporting social workers in promotional and educational work by providing audio-visual equipment and resource materials.

Medical Social Service

The Social Welfare Department continues to provide medical service in government hospitals and clinics to help patients and their families deal with the many personal and family problems arising from illness and disability.

Care of the Elderly

The recently published White Paper - 'Social Welfare into the 1990s and Beyond' – laid down 'Care in the Community and by the Community' as the guiding principle for the planning and development of services for the elderly. A wide range of community support services is provided to help families look after their elderly members and to enable old people to live with dignity in the community for as long as possible. Such community services include home help, day care, social and recreational activities, canteen services, community education, as well as respite care. At the end of 1991, there were 64 home help teams, 166 social centres, 17 multi-service centres, 10 day care centres and 13 respite care places. Financial assistance, which includes public assistance and special needs allowance and housing assistance comprising compassionate rehousing and priority allocation of public housing, continues to be available for those eligible. To provide timely services to the elderly at risk, two outreaching teams as pilot projects were launched in April 1991.

Residential facilities are provided for those who, for health or other reasons, are unable to look after themselves and who have no relatives or friends to assist them. At the end of 1991, there were 2046 hostel places, 7 508 home places and 3 704 care-and-atten- tion places.

In addition, sheltered housing is provided in private housing flats as well as in public housing estates for 3 131 elderly people who are capable of living independently.

The Registration Office of Private Homes for the Elderly continues to provide advice and assistance to private homes for the elderly to reach an acceptable service standard. Higher service standards are encouraged through the Voluntary Registration Scheme and through an offer to buy places from registered homes under the Bought Place Scheme.

To provide a regulatory framework and a set of uniform standards for all homes for old people, legislation on residential care homes is being drafted.

Services for Young People

Helping young people to become mature and responsible members of society is the main objective of this programme. A wide range of services is designed for young people aged

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