The government recently proposed amendments to the bill to improve the quality of residential care homes and residential care homes for the disabled from eight aspects, including increasing the per capita floor area of residents from a minimum of 6.5 square meters to 9.5 square meters.
Li Hui, a member of the Elderly Affairs Committee, expressed his concern on the RTHK program this morning (26th) that he was worried that this move would lead to a sharp increase in the rent of beds. The rent for each bed was originally apportioned at $4,500, but under the new regulation to increase the area, the number of beds will be reduced to 68, and the rent per bed alone will immediately increase to about $6,600, an increase of nearly 50% .
She went on to point out that some elderly people have no relatives and rely on CSSA, and the government has to bear the additional cost.
Li Hui said on the RTHK program "Millennium Times" this morning that raising the minimum floor area for residents means improving service quality, which involves an increase in resource costs, and bed rents are bound to increase.
She continued to point out that due to area restrictions, only beds can be deducted and then the rent can be increased. For example, the monthly rent for a residential home is 450,000 yuan, which originally provided 100 dormitories, each 6.5 square meters. The rent is 4,500 yuan; however, under the new amendment, there is only enough space for 68 beds, and the rent for each bed needs to be increased to about 6,600 yuan, an increase of 47%.
She said that some residents may be single-living elders receiving CSSA, and the government has to consider the additional costs involved.
Li Hui, member of the Elderly Commission and operator of residential care homes.
(File photo/Photo by Liang Pengwei)
The industry said that "even if you have money, you can't hire anyone"
In addition, under the new amendments, taking high-care residential homes as an example, although the duty ratio of nurses or health workers will remain unchanged, the daily duty time will be increased from the current 11 hours to 13 hours.
Li Hui mentioned that it is currently difficult for the industry to hire front-line nurses and nursing assistants.
She continued to point out that it is more difficult to hire employees under the new amendments. "One employee will come back with you for 13 hours."
She said that although the government has approved foreign workers, the surrounding area has an aging population and salaries have increased, making it less attractive to work in Hong Kong.
She estimates that the industry still owes about 500 to 600 nurses to meet the new regulations.
Vaccinations in Residential Homes｜The first vaccination rate for the elderly in residential care homes is 82%, a sharp increase of 27 percentage points compared with mid-March. Residential Homes Legislation Amendment｜The industry expects recurrent expenditure to increase by at least 60,000 per month Small Residential Homes will be eliminated. Law Chi-kwong: Homes that do not meet the new regulations can be gradually withdrawn detect