Replies to LegCo questions

LCQ8: Support services for singleton elderly

Following is a question by the Hon Fernando Cheung and a written reply by the Secretary for Health, Welfare and Food, Dr York Chow, in the Legislative Council today (March 8):

Question:

It has been reported that an elderly person sentenced to life imprisonment in January this year for arson in a Mass Transit Railway compartment had a traffic accident years ago, after which he had to walk with a limp. Abandoned by his wife and children, he had to live alone for a long period of time, which made him unsociable. Later, he was prosecuted six times for riding a bicycle illegally fitted with an electric engine and his bicycle was also confiscated. All these led him to have anti-social sentiments. Regarding the assistance to this person and other singleton elderly, will the Government inform this Council:

(a) although that elderly person had been prosecuted six times and his bicycle confiscated by law enforcement agencies, why the relevant government departments did not provide suitable social services to detect, at an early stage, his anti-social behaviour and assist him in improving his living conditions;

(b) whether it has issued guidelines to staff of various government departments on the methods (including making referrals to the relevant government departments) for dealing with singleton elderly in need of assistance whom they met at work; and

(c) of its plan to improve the living conditions of singleton elderly with similar background and cater for their needs for social contacts, as well as the estimated expenditure for providing such services?

Reply:

Madam President,

The Government encourages and promotes families and the society take care of elderly. Singleton elderly are more vulnerable to emotional and other problems due to the lack of attention from families and friends, and should receive particular care and attention. We are providing a range of support measures for singleton elderly. These include:

* through Support Teams for the Elderly (STEs) mobilizing volunteers (including elderly volunteers) to seek out singleton elderly through outreach activities, home visits and telephone calls, and provide assistance and emotional support to them. As at December 2005, there were 41 STEs serving nearly 60 000 elders, of whom over 30 000 were living alone;

* providing services for elders and their carers through more than 200 elderly centres, with a view to widening elders' social network and facilitating them to integrate into the community. Services of elderly centres include counseling, social and recreational activities, classes, referral, volunteer development and carers support services. At present, over 100 000 elders are members of the elderly centres;

* subsidising elderly who are recipients of the Comprehensive Social Security Assistance (CSSA), and non-CSSA elderly who have financial difficulties, to install emergency alarm system. From time to time, operators of emergency alarm system would deploy volunteers to ring up elderly service subscribers, in particular singleton elderly, to show care and support. At present, about 53 000 elders are using the emergency alarm service. Many of them are singleton elderly; and

* subsidising non-government organizations (NGOs) to run home care services for elders in need. These services include meal delivery, household cleaning, escort, personal nursing care and physiotherapy. About 20 000 elders are using home care services at present. Many of them are living alone.

My replies to the specific questions raised by the Hon Fernando Cheung are as follows:

(a) the Social Welfare Department (SWD) had attended to the welfare needs of the person concerned, including providing him with Comprehensive Social Security Assistance (CSSA) and assisting him to change public rental housing unit to meet his needs. He had not shown anti-social or violent behaviour during his contacts with SWD's social workers.

(b) from time to time, SWD conducts briefings to the frontline units of relevant Government departments and organisations, including the Police, Housing Department, Hospital Authority and the Department of Health, on the welfare services it and the NGOs are providing, so that they may refer individuals with welfare needs to SWD or relevant service units for follow up, support and services at an early stage.

(c) we provide elders in need, including singleton elderly, with social security, public medical services, public housing, subsidised home and community care services, subsidised residential care places and other community support services. Government expenditure on social security for elders and elderly services (excluding public housing and public medical services) in 2006-07 is estimated to be $16.5 billion, which is 4.7% higher than the 2005-06 Revised Estimate.

We will continue to help elders, including singleton elderly, improve their quality of life, including social life, through outreach activities by support teams, elderly centres and home care services. In the 2006-07 Budget, the Financial Secretary has allocated an additional $20 million to strengthen home care services for elders. We will make use of the additional resources to increase the capacity of home care services. We will consider according priority to elders most in need, including singleton elderly, in allocating the additional service capacity.

Also, we will work closely with the Elderly Commission to further promote the work of active ageing and drive home a positive image of the elderly.



Ends/Wednesday, March 8, 2006
Issued at HKT 14:29

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