69.     The Government has for years been buying residential care places from private homes under the Enhanced Bought Place Scheme.  About a quarter of existing private homes have joined the Scheme.  We will provide additional resources to encourage private homes to upgrade their services so that more elderly people on the waiting list will opt for them.  We will also buy more places to help relieve the pressure on subvented and contract homes.

70.     As for nursing home places, the Government has pooled resources to increase their supply in recent years.  We have earmarked sufficient funds to increase the number of such places by more than 50% by 2015.  Also, we will increase the supply of long-term care places providing a continuum of care.  I must stress that, while we encourage the elderly to age at home, under no circumstances will we neglect their needs for residential care services.

71.     In addition, as many elderly people choose to live in non-subsidised homes, I propose to introduce a supplement for CSSA recipients aged 60 or above living in such homes to ease their financial burden.  CSSA recipients with disabilities of any age living in such homes may also receive the supplement.

72.     The Government now grants a supplement to subsidised residential care homes for the elderly so that additional healthcare professionals can be employed to provide targeted training and care for residents suffering from dementia.  The measure was extended to cover day care centres for the elderly last year.  I propose to increase the amount of the supplement to enable such institutions to enhance support for demented elderly people.

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