Bigger State Subsidy For Old Folks’ Accommodation

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29138, 25 February 1960, Page 16

Bigger State Subsidy For Old Folks’ Accommodation

(New Zealand Press Association)

WELLINGTON, Feb. 24. The Government has approved an increase in the rate of subsidy payable to religious and welfare organisations for certain types of accommodation for old people, according to “Later Years,” the newsletter of the Government advisory committee on the care of the aged. The increase is from 75 per cent, to 100 per cent, of the approved capital cost of the project. The newsletter says that the categories to which the increased subsidy will apply are: Hospitals ■or the aged, sick, and infirm; home accommodation for frail and confused ambulants; and home accommodation for old people unable fully to care for themselves. As with the 75 per cent, subsidy there are certain terms and conditions attached to the new subsidy. Briefly they are that the Department of Health is satisfied there is a need for the accommodation, and that unless otherwise approved the total maximum grant payable in respect of one project is to be limited to £120,000 for each type of accommodation that qualifies for the 100 per cent, grant. Before a grant is approved, the following assurances are to ■be

given:—That the premises will not be used to accommodate old people unless they have been licensed as a private hospital under the Hospitals Act, 1956, or registered as an old people’s home under the Health Amendment Act, 1958; that in the event of the building or buildings ceasing to be used to accommodate old people or in the event of the private hospital licence or home registration covering them being revoked, the grant will be repaid; that the organisation will select patients or persons for admission to the hospital or home on the basis of need, not religious dencrninatiou or membership of a particular oiganisation; that, except for the social security hospital benefits, funds for adequate maintenance and upkeep are assured without direct recourse to Government funds; that the organisation is in a position to provide or ob'i.n the necessity stiff and as huts the Government that such stiff will be employee; and that ro structural alteraVons or ac.r'tions will le made to accommoaaUon without the prior written ar pi oval of the Department of Health.

Aodrtional details of policy wil be sent to Uiteresled organisations shortly.