720 興建華人護理設施 社區有責

2014 維州工黨承諾購地支持少數族裔興建適合他們文化的護理設施，至今10年，已先後在墨爾本東南及東北區購買了兩幅土地，計劃長期廉價租給華人社區組織，興建兩所各有90個床位的設施。不過經過十年， 政府仍未把土地交到社區組織手上進行興建。不過， 最近政府終於再行邀請華人組織提交興建設施申請，盼望這一過程能盡快進行，以解華人社區需要。

由於聯邦政府規管及撥款不足，經營長者護理設施，極不容易。主流長者護理設施由於供應多，平均入住率只有８６％，質素稍低的供應商因住客不足而導致虧損者超過半數，聯邦政府正對這一個行業進行改革，成果仍未知曉。不過針對華裔提供的中文護理設施，由於數量極不足夠，在未來２０年內， 幾乎是全滿。

現時維州政府能落實提供土地讓華人社區籌辦護理設施，是惠民的政策。不過由於長期拖延，已令不少華人長者要擠身在說英語的護理設施之中。對主流護理設施經營者，自然是大好，因為有更多需求服務的顧客。但從這些華裔長者來說，卻是沒有完全滿足到他們的需要。

聯邦政策表明，由於年長者很容易會喪失第二語言能力，即是說第一代移民的長者就算會說英語，也很有可能漸漸不能以英語溝通，因此仍然需要中文長者護理設施，不然他們就無法與院內員工及其他長者溝通。華裔長者住進主流護理設施後，因語言能力不足而少與院內其他人接觸，因而認知能力及健康情況急速下滑是常見的事。按聯邦政府的計算，管理提供給同一族裔的長者護理設施，比起同時提供不同語言的設施更有效率及省錢。

而且，住在提供給同一文化族裔設施中的長者，他們能得有較適合自己的飲食、社交生活及活動，個人情緒及滿意程度就更高。現時在墨爾本排隊輪候進入華人護理設施的， 往往要等待數年，可見興建更多華人長者護理設施，刻不容緩。

維州政府既然願意提供土地相助，華人社區組織就要有責任及承擔起興建與管理的責任。中國人重視孝道，為長者提供適合他們的護理設施，是體現「老吾老以及人之老」的精神。

盼望墨爾本華人社區能在未來，大力支持興建更多適合華人長者的護理設施。

周偉文, 社長

Building Chinese Care Facilities: The Community’s Responsibility

In the 10 years since the Victorian Labor Party promised to buy land to support ethnic minorities to build culturally appropriate care facilities, it has purchased two pieces of land in Melbourne’s south-east and north-east regions, with the intention of leasing them to Chinese community organizations at low cost for a long period of time to build two 90-bed facilities each. However, after 10 years, the government has not yet handed over the land to community organizations for construction. Recently, however, the government has finally invited Chinese organizations to submit applications for the construction of the facilities, in the hope that the process can be carried out as soon as possible to address the needs of the Chinese community.

It is extremely difficult to operate elderly care facilities due to the lack of funding and regulatory policies from the federal government. Mainstream elderly care facilities have an average occupancy rate of only 86% due to the large supply, with lower quality providers in deficit due to high vacancy rate. The federal government is in the process of reforming the industry, but the results are not yet known. However, the number of Chinese speaking care facilities for the Chinese population is extremely insufficient and will be almost fully occupied in the next 20 years.

The fact that the Victorian government is now able to provide land for the Chinese community to organize care facilities is a good policy for the people. However, due to the long delay, many Chinese elders have to crowd into English-speaking care facilities. This is naturally a good thing for mainstream care facility operators, as there will be more customers in need of their services. But from the perspective of these Chinese seniors, their needs are not being fully met.

Federal policy suggests that Chinese-speaking elderly care facilities are still needed because seniors can easily lose their second language skills, meaning that first-generation immigrant seniors, even if they can speak English now, are likely to lose the ability to communicate in English soon, or else they won’t be able to communicate with staff and other seniors in the facility. It is not uncommon for Chinese-speaking elders to experience a rapid decline in cognitive ability and health after being admitted to a mainstream care facility because they have little contact with others in the facility due to their lack of language skills. According to federal research, it is more efficient and cost-effective to manage a facility that provides care to seniors of the same ethnicity than one that provides care to seniors of different languages at the same time.

Moreover, seniors living in culturally homogeneous facilities are more likely to be able to have a diet, social life and activities that suit them better, resulting in higher levels of personal emotion and satisfaction. At present, those who queue up for admission to Chinese care facilities in Melbourne often have to wait for several years, so it can be seen that the construction of more Chinese care facilities for the elderly should not be delayed.

Since the Victorian Government is willing to provide land to help, Chinese community organizations should be responsible and take up the responsibility of building and managing these facilities. The Chinese emphasize filial piety, and the provision of suitable care facilities for the elderly is a manifestation of the spirit of “taking care of one’s own aged parents and also caring for others’ aged parents”.

We hope that the Melbourne Chinese community will support the construction of more care facilities for the Chinese elderly in the future.

Mr. Raymond Chow, Publisher