Eligible elderly persons to be invited to join Pilot Residential Care Services Scheme in Guangdong
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     The Social Welfare Department (SWD) will, starting from next Monday (June 30), invite eligible elderly persons in batches to join the Pilot Residential Care Services Scheme in Guangdong.

     Eligible elderly persons, who are currently on the Central Waiting List for Long Term Care Services, will be invited to join the Scheme according to the order of their application dates through respective Responsible Workers taking care of their long-term care service applications.

     The Assistant Director (Elderly) of the SWD, Ms Cecilla Li, said today (June 26) that the Scheme provides an option for elderly persons who are on the Central Waiting List for subsidised care and attention places to consider choosing to live in the residential care homes for the elderly (RCHEs) operated by two Hong Kong non-governmental organisations (NGOs).

     The two RCHEs are the Hong Kong Jockey Club Shenzhen Society for Rehabilitation Yee Hong Heights operated by the Hong Kong Society for Rehabilitation in Shenzhen and the Hong Kong Jockey Club Helping Hand Zhaoqing Home for the Elderly run by Helping Hand in Zhaoqing.

     "Under the Scheme, the government subsidy covers meals and accommodation charges, personal and nursing care and basic medical fees. The elderly persons admitted to the RCHEs under the Scheme need not pay these fees," Ms Li said.

     The Responsible Workers will introduce the Scheme to the elderly persons and family members or carers. If an elderly person is interested to know more about the services under the Scheme, the SWD will arrange, according to the elderly person's choice and wishes, for the Hong Kong Society for Rehabilitation and/or Helping Hand to contact the elderly person as well as his or her family members or carers for providing more details about the services.

     Ms Li pointed out that the elderly persons may decide whether or not to join the Scheme after they have gained a thorough understanding of the services.

     For enquiries, people may contact the Elderly Branch of the SWD at 2892 5509/2892 5507 or by email at sse5@swd.gov.hk.

Ends/Thursday, June 26, 2014
Issued at HKT 15:01

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