Regarding Elderly Care Policy Health and Social  pt1          1500w

Different countries or societies have different policies or views regarding elderly care policy. In the United Kingdom (UK), the United Kingdom government has advocated “Building a society for all ages” in (2009). The initiative suggested the followings need to be improved: pension scheme, better public services, improving financial support, engaging with work, and building communities (Building a society for all ages, 2009).

In Hong Kong (2009-2010) recent policy has also mentioned about elderly care. The initiative raised by Hong Kong Government (i.e. 2009-2010 Policy Address) in order to improve the quality of the elderly care include-

1. “Increasing from 50% to 90% the proportion of nursing home places in

existing subsidised contract residential care homes for the elderly;

2. Purchasing, for the first time, vacant places from self-financing nursing homes and care and attention homes; and

3. Making full use of the space in existing subsidised elderly homes to provide more places that offer continuous care” (2009-2010, Policy Address).

Different initiatives, for example, senior citizen card scheme in which elder aged 65 or over can enjoy concessions, privilege offered by Governmental departments (Social Welfare Department, 2009), have already offered for caring the elderly, nonetheless, the impact of global economic tsunami has affected worldwide economical structures and government funded health care provision. Cutting budget is a means commonly used by different governments so as to balancing revenue and expenditure. In the author own experience, having been a nurse in the specialist area of gerontology for seven years, from her observation, budget deficit have already incurred the followings-

Impact on health care staff’s salary is either deducted or remains unchanged. As a result, the overall morale is low and the turnover rate is high.

Impact on budget used for caring the elderly is decreased. Health technology, lifespan of the elderly and expectations from the public are driving forces but budget deficit is a powerful resisting force. Striking a