Elderly aid: Additional recurrent funding of $37 million will be allocated to residential care homes taking care of infirm elders and those with dementia.

Additional recurrent funding of $37 million will be allocated to residential care homes taking care of infirm elders and those with dementia.

In his 2009-10 Budget today Financial Secretary John Tsang said the Government will increase recurrent funding by $55 million to provide 650 additional subsidised residential care places through the Enhanced Bought Place Scheme and two new contract homes.

Backing the Elderly Commission's Neighbourhood Active Ageing Project, which encourages self and mutual help among seniors at the community level, he pledged to allocate an additional $5 million in the next financial year to establish new networks in each district.

He will also allocate $10 million to establish an Elder Academy Development Foundation, co-sponsored by the Government and various sectors, to ensure the sustainable development of the Elder Academy Scheme.

The Government will co-ordinate the formation of a dedicated portal for the elderly in the coming year to provide one-stop information service on elderly services and the "silver hair market".

Care for the disabled

Mr Tsang will provide additional recurrent funding of $19 million to enhance care and training for the disabled, including the provision of 156 additional residential places, 30 more day training or vocational rehabilitation service places and 54 additional pre-school rehabilitation service places.

To strengthen transport services he will earmark $7.7 million to increase the number of Rehabuses to 115 by acquiring six new buses and replacing four old ones.

To support the enhanced psychiatric outpatient, rehabilitation and oncology services given by the Hospital Authority in recent years, he will provide funding for 10 additional medical social workers. This will allow more timely services to be provided to patients and their families.

The first integrated community centre for mental wellness in Tin Shui Wai will be set up next month providing a one-stop community support and rehabilitation service for locals.

Women, families

To further support families in need and victims of domestic violence, Mr Tsang will earmark $25 million to increase the number of social workers and clinical psychologists dealing with domestic violence cases.

The Government will further develop batterer-intervention programmes and strengthen support for crisis centres and refuge centres for women.

It will extend Neighbourhood Support Child Care Project in March to more districts.

Mr Tsang will allocate $20 million in the coming three years to expand the Capacity Building Mileage Programme to encourage women of different backgrounds and educational levels to pursue lifelong learning and develop a positive mindset.