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Social Welfare

police officers, and the teachers and parents of juveniles under the PSDS work together to decide what is best for them.

Drug Treatment and Rehabilitation

The department subvents 13 residential drug treatment and rehabilitation centres and halfway houses, 11 counselling centres for psychotropic substance abusers and two centres for drug counselling. It also regulates the treatment and rehabilitation centres under the Drug Dependent Persons Treatment and Rehabilitation Centres (Licensing) Ordinance, and provides practical guidelines and professional advice on licensing requirements to safeguard the well- being of the drug-dependent residents.

District Support Scheme for Children and Youth Development

The department renders direct cash assistance via a District Support Scheme for Children and Youth Development to address the developmental needs of disadvantaged children and young people aged 24 or below at the district level.

Services for the Elderly

The government encourages elderly people to lead active and healthy lives, and offers community support to help them age in place. The department provides subsidised residential care for those who have long-term care needs but cannot receive adequate care at home.

Through the Opportunities for the Elderly Project, the department encourages elderly people to take part actively in community affairs and in building an age-friendly community. It subsidised 548 programmes with government grants totalling about $13.4 million in the 2016-18 phase.

Senior Citizen Cards allow their holders to enjoy concessions, discounts and priority service. provided by public and private organisations and government departments. There were 1.22 million cardholders as at end-2018.

Community Care and Support

Various schemes under the department lend help to about 45,000 frail elderly people. Subsidies are granted to 136 service teams, comprising integrated home care services teams, enhanced home and community care services teams, support teams for the elderly and a home help team; and to 76 day care centres and units for the elderly to support those living at home. The second phase of the Pilot Scheme on Community Care Service Vouchers for the Elderly, serving all 18 districts, offers 6,000 vouchers allowing eligible elderly people to choose the services that suit their individual needs.

The department also subvents 211 elderly centres and a holiday centre for the elderly. Its six- year Improvement Programme of Elderly Centres, launched in 2012 through the Lotteries Fund, enhances the physical settings and facilities of 237 elderly centres. As at end-2018, about $884 million had been approved under the Lotteries Fund for 229 elderly centres. Upgrading works on 167 of the centres had been completed and these had reopened for service with a new look.

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