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Following is a question by the Hon Lau Kwong-wah and a written reply by the Secretary for Health, Welfare and Food, Dr York Chow, in the Legislative Council today (November 29):
Question :
Regarding the elderly people waiting for subsidised places in residential care homes for the elderly (RCHEs), will the Government inform this Council:
(a) of the respective numbers of elderly persons on the waiting list for such places and those with placements arranged in each of the past three years, the average waiting time for those with placements arranged, as well as the measures to shorten the waiting time;
(b) whether the authorities will discuss with the Mainland authorities ways to enhance the standards of the facilities and services of those RCHEs on the Mainland for elderly persons from Hong Kong, in order to encourage them to live there; and
(c) whether the authorities will consider providing support for the elderly persons from Hong Kong who live in RCHEs on the Mainland?
Reply :
Madam President,
(a) The number of elders on the Central Waiting List (CWL) applying for subsidised residential care places (including subsidised care and attention (C&A) places and nursing places), and those admitted to the subsidised places in each of the past three years are shown in Table 1.
According to the statistics as at October 31, 2006, the average waiting time for different types of subsidised residential care places is shown in Table 2.
Elders will enjoy better physical and mental health if they live in the community and maintain a normal social life. We encourage and assist elders who require long-term care (LTC) and have access to family support to age at home, and provide those in need with subsidised home care, day care or respite care services. We will continue to enhance the home care services to facilitate more elders to age in the community. Also, we provide subsidised residential care places for elders in need. In the long run, we will explore possible options on LTC financing.
The number of subsidised residential care places in Hong Kong has increased from about 16 000 in 1997 to about 26 000 at present, representing an increase of 60%. In view of the high demand in the community, we will continue to increase the number of subsidised residential care places while encouraging elders to age in the community.
In 2007-08, we will award the contracts for three new purpose-built residential care homes for the elderly (RCHEs) to provide 200 additional subsidised places. Also, we will increase the number of subsidised places in private RCHEs by 400 - 500 through the "Enhanced Bought Place Scheme". In addition, we will continue to convert in phases subsidised residential care places which do not have LTC element, and C&A places which are not providing continuum of care, into LTC places to provide continuum of care.
(b) At present, various Hong Kong non-governmental organisations (NGOs) are providing residential care services featuring Hong Kong's service and training modes in the Guangdong Province, with a view to attracting Hong Kong and Mainland elders looking for residential care in Guangdong to use the services. The quality of the facilities and services of those RCHEs is up to standard. Also, a few Mainland operators of elderly services are cooperating with Hong Kong NGOs on staff training. Hong Kong organisations have to comply with the laws and regulations of the Mainland when operating elderly services there.
In view of the challenges of an ageing population, the Mainland is also placing much emphasis on the quality and professionalism of its elderly services. In enhancing the quality of its elderly services, the Mainland values the cooperation and exchanges with the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and Hong Kong's elderly service sector. The Health, Welfare and Food Bureau and the Social Welfare Department, together with the local elderly service sector, have from time to time conducted visits and exchanges with the relevant departments in the Guangdong Provincial Government and municipal governments for experience sharing and enhancing mutual understanding.
Elders residing in the Mainland may age at home if they have family members, relatives and friends there to look after them. They do not necessarily have to stay in RCHEs.
(c) Retiring in the Mainland is the personal choice of elders. Elders may take into account factors such as their family and social ties and their adaptability to the life style and the welfare and health care systems in the Mainland.
At present, the Comprehensive Social Security Assistance (CSSA) Scheme takes special care of the needs of the elderly CSSA recipients who wish to take up permanent residence in Guangdong or Fujian. The Portable Comprehensive Social Security Assistance (PCSSA) Scheme allows elders to continue to receive CSSA while residing in Guangdong and Fujian. Recipients of PCSSA may use the CSSA payment to pay for the fees and charges of RCHEs in the Mainland.
Also, the Social Security Assistance Scheme takes special care of the needs of elders who wish to spend more time with relatives in places outside Hong Kong (including the Mainland). The permissible limit of absence has been relaxed from 180 days to 240 days in a year with effect from October 1, 2005, subject to the condition that the recipient has to reside in Hong Kong for not less than 90 days in that year.
Ends/Wednesday, November 29, 2006
Issued at HKT 14:21
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