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A spokesman for the Social Welfare Department (SWD) said today (May 30) that a service booth under SWD's designated help desk will be set up from 9am to 1pm and from 2pm to 5pm tomorrow at the Tai Po (South) Integrated Family Service Centre. It will provide enquiry and support service for the residents and their families who are being affected arising from possible non-renewal of licence in respect of a private residential care home for the elderly in Tai Po, to facilitate their choosing of suitable residential care service. Details are as follows:
Tai Po (South) Integrated Family Service Centre
4/F, Tai Po Community Centre,
2 Heung Sze Wui Street, Tai Po Market
Tel: 2657 8832
The spokesman said the help desk staff have already contacted the families of all the 57 residents affected. Caseworkers will continue to follow up on the residential care needs of individual elderly residents to ensure proper residential arrangements for them.
In view of reports on other privately run elderly homes in Tai Po raising their prices excessively, the spokesman said that the SWD had already reached a consensus with The Elderly Services Association of Hong Kong. Some 20 elderly home member agencies of the Association in Tai Po have undertaken to render assistance to the affected residents by providing residential care service and no fees will be increased.
Residents and their relatives who wish to enquire about residential care arrangements or have difficulties in searching for elderly home places may contact the designated help desk at 3183 9356 (office hours) or call the SWD 24-hour hotline 2343 2255.
Ends/Saturday, May 30, 2015
Issued at HKT 22:20
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