The Social Welfare Ministry will utilize $4.5million for the upgrading of all state homes around the country.

Minister Mereseini Vuniwaqa says they have started the renovation work at the Labasa home and will soon move to other homes around the country.

“It’s a whole new design which will cost the government $4.5 million so the $2 million is for this particular year that will be finished in the next financial year, now for the Lautoka and the Suva homes we are now into the design stages.”

Vuniwaqa says they have also done a survey on the number of elderly persons and their needs in every community and has mapped out a plan.

“Lautoka will have new buildings in accordance with the design we are working with the consultant right now so we are working with our consultant to do the designs to look at what we know will be the number of elderly persons in our nation in the next 20-30 years.”

She adds the ministry will continue to accommodate elderly persons in years to come.