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The Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Matthew Cheung Kin-chung, visited two families and an elderly home in Southern District this (September 18) afternoon to understand at first hand the welfare needs of local residents.
Accompanied by the District Officer (Southern), Mr Alex Wong, Mr Cheung first visited a 78-year-old lady living alone in Wah Fu Estate, Aberdeen.
The lady said that she was happy to be able to age in the community and that she was still actively involved in voluntary work and taking courses offered by the elderly centres.
She was also pleased that new aluminium window frames have been installed in the balcony of her home under the Social Welfare Department's Home Environment Improvement Scheme for the Elderly. A new rice cooker was also bought for her.
The five-year scheme was launched in June last year to assist elders who live in dilapidated homes with poor fittings and lack financial means to improve their home conditions.
The scheme has received overwhelming response from the elderly. As of end-June this year, the 41 District Elderly Community Centres have received around 13,000 applications, 9,800 of which have been approved. So far, 5,000 cases have been completed and 1,600 cases partially completed, with the necessary works and/or fittings provided to the elders concerned.
Mr Cheung then visited a family with new arrivals from the Mainland. Ms So came with her two daughters to settle in Hong Kong last year. Mr Cheung chatted with them to find out if they had any problems integrating into the community.
The last leg of the visit was the Tung Wah Group of Hospitals (TWGH) David Trench Home for the Elderly at Nam Long Shan. Mr Cheung was briefed on the elderly care services, dementia care services and physiotherapy services provided, and chatted with the elders to learn about their lives in the elderly home.
In operation since 1971, the TWGH David Trench Home for the Elderly provides some 180 subsidised residential care places.
The Lotteries Fund allocated a grant to the TWGH to engage a consultant to conduct a feasibility study on the redevelopment of the elderly home earlier this year. More day care and residential care places are expected to be offered after the redevelopment.
Ends/Friday, September 18, 2009
Issued at HKT 19:28
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