Press Releases
Enhanced support and assistance for quadriplegics living in the community
Community support service for quadriplegics living in the community will be enhanced, the Secretary for Health, Welfare and Food, Dr Yeoh Eng-kiong, said today (June 29).
He said the Government's rehabilitation policy was to encourage and facilitate people with disabilities to live and integrate into the community through provision of community care and support services.
Dr Yeoh met with and listened to the views expressed by representatives of four self-help groups of quadriplegics and agreed to consider how best to reinforce the assistance to help them to live in the community.
Speaking after the meeting, Dr Yeoh said quadriplegics living in the community who were receiving Comprehensive Social Security Assistance (CSSA) could apply for the Care and Attention Allowance to cover the actual cost of hiring personal care helper if they were in need of intensive home care.
The allowance will be granted subject to medical certification and social worker's recommendation. It is payable on a reimbursement basis to meet the actual cost of hiring a carer up to a maximum of $4,296 per month. At present, the allowance is granted only if the patient has no family carer.
"Taking into consideration that some quadriplegic patients may require long hours of care and attention and the special circumstances of these individuals, the Social Welfare Department would adopt a more flexible approach in the grant of the allowance," he said.
For those quadriplegics living in the community who were not CSSA recipients, Dr Yeoh said they were eligible for the non-means tested Higher Disability Allowance, adding that community support was also available in the form of charity funds.
To enhance community-based care, the Integrated Home Care Services teams service would also be extended to people with severe physical disabilities starting from August, Dr Yeoh said.
Ends/Tuesday, June 29, 2004
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