Aiding the aged: The Government will increase homecare services to support families living with frail elderly people.

A trial scheme will be launched under which all citizens aged 70 or above will be given five $50 healthcare vouchers annually to subsidise primary medical care services they purchase from the private sector.

Chief Executive Donald Tsang said in his Policy Address today the three-year trial scheme, to be implemented in the 2008-09 financial year, will cost $150 million annually.

The vouchers can be used for services provided by western and Chinese medicine practitioners, allied health professionals and dentists, as well as for preventive services like medical examination or vaccination, and therapeutic services.

"Apart from giving something back to our senior citizens, this initiative enables them to choose more freely various primary medical care services in the local community and therefore reduces waiting time. It also seeks to encourage the elderly to make good use of primary medical care services and establish a 'continuum of care' relationship with family doctors, to better safeguard their health."

Home improvement

Mr Tsang said some elderly live in poor communities with no family support. Their dilapidated homes imply a poor quality of life and domestic safety problems. The Government will therefore earmark one-off funding of $200 million to help improve their homes in the next five years. The Labour & Welfare Bureau will, in collaboration with the Social Welfare Department, examine the arrangements to implement this measure.

"We hope this initiative will encourage our citizens to care more about the elderly in need, enabling the culture of caring for the elderly to take root in our community."

Mr Tsang said the Government will increase homecare services in support of families living with frail elderly people in certain districts.

A trial scheme to provide one-stop support services to elderly dischargees, including rehabilitation, homecare and carer support services, will be launched in Kwun Tong early next year.