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LCQ15: Subsidised places in residential care homes
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     Following is a question by the Hon Cheung Kwok-che and a written reply by the Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Matthew Cheung Kin-chung, in the Legislative Council today (January 14):

Question:

     Some elderly people and persons with disabilities ("PWDs") have criticized that the current supply of subsidized places in residential care homes for the elderly ("RCHEs") and in residential care homes for PWDs ("RCHDs") falls short of demand, resulting in rather long waiting time for such places.  In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

(a) of the respective current numbers of residents staying in subsidized care and attention places and nursing home places and, in respect of each type of such places, the current numbers of vacant places and elderly people waiting for admission, as well as the average waiting time for admission;

(b) of the latest information on the following residential care homes for various types of PWDs;

                                No. of
                                People     Average
Type of                 No. of  waiting    waiting
residential  No. of     vacant  for        time for
Homes        residents  places  admission  admission
-----------  ---------  ------  ---------  ---------

Care and
Attention
Home for
Severely
Disabled
Persons

Hostel for
Severely
Mentally
Handicapped
Persons

Hostel for
Severely
Physically
Handicapped
Persons

Hostel for
Severely
Physically
Handicapped
Persons with
Mental
Handicap

Hostel for
Moderately
Mentally
Handicapped
Persons

Supported Hostel:
 
 Mentally
 Handicapped
 Persons

 Ex-mentally
 Ill Persons

 Blind Persons

 Physically
 Handicapped
 Persons

Care and
Attention
Home for the
Aged Blind

Hostel for
Ex-mentally
Ill Persons:

 Halfway House

 Halfway House
 with Special
 Provision

 Long Stay
 Care Home

Self-financing
Hostel:

 Mentally
 Handicapped
 Persons

 Blind Persons

 Ex-mentally
 Ill Persons

 Physically
 Handicapped
 Persons

and

(c) whether the Government will increase the number of subsidized places in various types of RCHEs and RCHDs in the coming five years, so as to shorten the waiting time for admission; if it will, of the respective numbers; and the assistance provided by the Government to the elderly people and PWDs who are currently waiting for those places?

Reply:

President,

     My reply to the question is as follows:

(a) As at the end of November 2008, the numbers of residents occupying subsidised care and attention (C&A) places and nursing home (NH) places, the number of elders waiting for admission and the average waiting time are as follows:

Types of                  No. of
Residential               people        Average
Care          No. of      waiting for   waiting
Services      residents   admission     time
-----------   ---------   -----------   -------
                                       (in month)

C&A places     18 971       17 811       21 [Note1]
NH places       1 887        6 418       40

Note1: Regarding the waiting time for C&A places, the average waiting time for admission is only seven months if applicants opt for allocation of subsidised C&A places under the "Enhanced Bought Place Scheme".

     As at the end of November 2008, the occupancy rates of subsidised C&A places and NH places were about 96% and 94% respectively. Most of the vacancies are temporary in nature and are mainly due to natural wastage. The Social Welfare Department (SWD) is arranging other elders to take up those places. There is also a small number of vacant places designated for providing emergency placement and respite residential care services.

(b) SWD coordinates the allocation of subsidised residential care places for persons with disabilities (PWDs) through a central waiting list in accordance with the availability of places in the subsidised residential care homes. The subsidised residential care homes will immediately notify SWD of any vacant places for allocation to PWDs on the waiting list. There are no vacant places in the subsidised residential care homes for the time being. As at the end of November 2008, the number of places of various types of subsidised residential care services for PWDs, the number of PWDs waiting for admission and the average waiting time are as follows:

                              Number
                              people
Types of             Number   waiting     Average
Residential          of       for         waiting
care services        places   admission   time
-------------        ------   ---------   ---------
                                          (in month)

1. C&A Home for         765       368       38.4
Severely Disabled
Persons

2. Hostel for         2 940     1 886       78.0
Severely Mentally
Handicapped
Persons
(including
severely mentally
handicapped
persons with
physical handicap)

3. Hostel for           461       408       89.6
Severely
Physically
Handicapped
Persons

4. Hostel for         2 104     1 337       48.0
Moderately
Mentally
Handicapped
Persons

5. Supported            400       776       20.4
Hostel
(including
Mentally
Handicapped
Persons,
Physically
Handicapped
Persons, Blind
Persons and
Ex-mentally
Ill Persons)

6. C&A Home             825        45        6.2
for the Aged
Blind

7. Halfway House      1 509       633        4.6
(including
Halfway House
with Special
Provision)

8. Long Stay          1 407       714       34.0
Care Home

9. Residential          110        57        7.9
Special Child
Care Centre

10. Small Group          56        85       14.3
Home for Mildly
Mentally
Handicapped
Children

11. Integrated          170        --        --
Vocational
Training Centre
[Note2]

Note2: Operated by a non-governmental organisation which arranges direct admission for service users.

     Apart from the above subsidised residential care homes, as at the end of November 2008, there were 297 residential care places provided by self-financing homes and 225 of them were occupied, representing an occupancy rate of 76%. As these homes are not subsidised by the Government and applicants apply for admission to these homes direct, we do not have figures on the number of people on the waiting list or the average waiting time for such homes.

(c) On subsidised residential care places, the Government has made every effort to respond to the demand of the elderly. The overall supply of subsidised residential care places has increased from around 16,000 in 1997 to around 26,000 at present, representing a rise of about 60%.

     The Government will provide a total of 249 additional subsidised residential care places (including 75 C&A places and 174 NH places) in four newly constructed contract residential care homes for the elderly (RCHEs) in 2009 and 2010, and will continue to increase the supply of subsidised C&A places through the "Enhanced Bought Place Scheme". In addition, with a view to further increasing the supply of subsidised residential care places, we have earmarked five purpose-built premises for the construction of new contract RCHEs, and will proceed with the open tender process to select operators for these RCHEs in the next few years.

     Besides, elders eligible for subsidised residential care services may opt for subsidised community care services during their waiting period. Generally speaking, subsidised community care services, including personal care, nursing care, rehabilitation training, meal and escort services, etc. can be arranged for elders within a short period of time. There are also elders choosing to stay in private RCHEs during their waiting period. If they need financial assistance, they may apply for Comprehensive Social Security Assistance (CSSA) to meet the relevant expenses. In all, as at the end of November 2008, about 44% of the elders waiting for subsidised residential care places were receiving various kinds of government subsidies/services, including:

- about 11.2% were using subsidised community care services, including centre-based day care services and home-based care services;

- about 2.5% were using subsidised residential care services of a lower care level; and

- about 29.8% were staying in non-subsidised residential care places in private RCHEs and are receiving CSSA.

     The Government is mindful of the demand of the PWDs for residential care services. The number of subsidised residential care places has increased from around 6,400 in 1997 to over 10,700 at present, representing a rise of 67%. In 2008-09, we expect to provide 439 additional residential care places, taking the total provision to 11,106 places. Besides, we anticipate that two new rehabilitation services centres will come into operation in 2010. These centres, together with another in-situ expansion project, will provide a total of 515 additional subsidised residential care places.

     The Government will continue to closely monitor service demand and, as recommended in the Hong Kong Rehabilitation Programme Plan, adopt a three-pronged approach to implement the following measures, viz:

(a) to regulate the residential care homes for PWDs so as to ensure their service quality on the one hand while helping the market to develop residential care homes of different types and operational modes on the other;

(b) to support non-governmental organisations to develop self-financing homes; and

(c) to continue to steadily increase the number of subsidised residential care homes places.

     In tandem, the Government has been actively developing day care and community support services, with a view to providing the PWDs with the necessary training and support to facilitate their continuous living at home and full integration into the community.

     At present, the majority of PWDs waiting for subsidised residential care places are receiving various day training, vocational rehabilitation and community support services provided or subsidised by the SWD. These services include day activity centres and sheltered workshops, supported employment, day care for severely disabled persons, home-based training and support etc. Through the provision of the required rehabilitation services in response to individual needs, PWDs are given the necessary support and assistance which enables them to continue to live in the community while relieving the burden on and the stress of their families or carers. At present, the Government provides more than 15,900 day training and vocational rehabilitation places for PWDs in need.

     On community support services, we have also introduced a new service mode for service enhancement. In January 2009, SWD is setting up 16 district support centres for PWDs to provide one-stop service for strengthening the support for PWDs residing in the community and their family members through re-engineering the home-based training and support service. In addition, in March 2009, the Government will establish the first integrated community centre for mental wellness in Tin Shui Wai, providing integrated mental health support services in the community.

Ends/Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Issued at HKT 12:49

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