In the long run we will always need support of the families to take care of our elders and we’ll always have to rely on the families who look after children with disabilities and all kinds of family members who need assistance, which is why respite care is important to these families. It gives them a little bit of breathing room and helps them cope with the challenge of the extra responsibilities that they have. So I don’t think the government will ever be in a place where we could do 24-hour care for everybody.
We need to work together with the families. In cases of elders and persons with disabilities, government works to provide home care programming. Home care is very multi-faceted. Sometimes it’s nursing coverage and sometimes it’s light housework. So the program is different. Where there is a respite care program, it just gives the families a break while they take care of their loved ones.