Shadow Social Services minister Kim Young has attacked the Government for not budgeting for renovations for rest homes.

On Tuesday Government announced that the $670,000 sum for a new Paget post office was to be put toward upgrading accommodation for the elderly.

Mrs. Young, who represents Paget East, said she welcomed the planned renovations and agreed they were in a dire state.

But she added: "The Government stated in their 1998 Throne Speech that the deplorable state of Bermuda's rest homes will be addressed through a phased development plan to refurbish and renovate current seniors rest homes.

"So why is it all of a sudden in the year 2000 that there is this afterthought that finances needed to be rearranged to pay for something they already knew was part of the plan? "If seniors were such a priority as the Government are now saying, why didn't the Government come forward with a supplemental as they did for other initiatives like tourism and the Cabinet office? Mrs. Young added: "It is disturbing to think this rearranging of funds just before the Budget debate next month might be indicating funds have not been included in the next budget for this very important initiative.'' Mrs. Young also called upon the Government to look at expanding day care for the elderly whose children are working.

She added: "Another concept that works well in other countries is the `step up' accommodation that allows our older population the ability to live in a facility while they are independent and, as care becomes necessary, that care is available for them within the facility.'' SENIOR SR