The Health, Welfare & Food Bureau will launch a new day home service and extend the day foster care service to help families with young children.

In a Legislative Council paper submitted today, the bureau said it will strengthen the service provision of mutual help child care centres by providing financial incentives to operators. Fee subsidies will be available for families with financial need.

On elderly care, the bureau told lawmakers it will create more subsidised residential care places in new purpose-built homes for the elderly.

The Social Welfare Department will also generate up to 500 more subsidised places in private elderly care homes through the Enhanced Bought Place Scheme.

To enhance care for infirm and demented elderly, the department has been providing a cash subsidy known as the Infirmary Care Supplement and the Dementia Supplement to eligible care homes. In 2006-07, about $28 million has been earmarked for the Infirmary Care Supplement and about $13 million for the Dementia Supplement.

Home care services enhanced

To improve quality of life for the elderly, the Government has earmarked in the 2006-07 Budget an additional $20 million to strengthen home care services for them.

Operators of the 60 Integrated Home Care Services Teams are invited to apply for the new resources for enhancing their services. The enhanced services will be implemented early next year.

On the legislative amendments to the Domestic Violence Ordinance, the bureau said it is finalising proposals to render better protection for domestic violence victims and will begin preparing the amendment bill within the current legislative session.