Replies to LegCo questions
LCQ8: Assistance to the unidentified elderly
Following is a question by the Hon Lee Kok-long and a written reply by the
Secretary for Health, Welfare and Food, Dr York Chow, in the Legislative Council
today (March 28):
Question:
The Government has proposed to allocate an additional $38 million to 156 elderly
centres in 2007-2008 to enhance their outreach programmes, so as to encourage
and assist more elderly singletons, particularly the unidentified elderly, to
develop their social life, and provide referral and supporting services to those
in need. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
(a) of the definition for the unidentified elderly, the criteria involved in
defining such elderly from the social, mental and physical health angles, and
whether there are other criteria and ways to define the unidentified elderly; if
so, of the details;
(b) of the estimated number of such elderly and their percentage in the elderly
population in Hong Kong, with a breakdown by the districts in which they live;
(c) how it assists the unidentified elderly, including improving their social
life, mental and physical health as well as other living conditions, through
outreaching services; and
(d) of the details of the above referral and supporting services to be provided
to the unidentified elderly in need?
Reply:
Madam President,
(a) The term "hidden elders" does not have a strict definition. It generally
refers to elders who are disconnected from the society, do not know how to seek
help or support, and are not known to the existing network of community support.
The majority of them live alone without the support of family and friends and do
not have normal social life and connections.
(b) As "hidden elders" are not known to the existing network of community
support, we do not know the exact number of them in the community. The Census
and Statistics Department (C&SD) does not have statistics on "hidden elders"
either. Yet, it has statistics on singleton elders. According to the statistics
in C&SD's 2006 By-Census, there were about 98 829 singleton elders who were aged
65 or above, which accounted for 11.6% of the elderly population. However,
singleton elders are not necessarily "hidden elders". At present, about 39 000
members of the District Elderly Community Centres (DECCs) and the Neighbourhood
Elderly Centres are singleton elders. The Support Teams for the Elderly (STEs)
attached to the DECCs have established contact with 30 000 singleton elders,
some of whom are also DECC and NEC members.
(c) & (d) Currently, the 41 DECCs, the STEs attached to the DECCs and the 115
NECs outreach to singleton elders. The additional allocation of $38 million in
the 2007-08 Budget to these elderly centres will enhance their social worker
manpower for planning and mobilising district resources (including volunteers)
to strengthen their outreach programmes to locate more singleton elders (in
particular "hidden elders") and assist them to develop social life and provide
referral and supporting services to those in need.
After locating the singleton/hidden elders, the DECCs, the STEs and the NECs
will try to establish rapport with them, help them get out of isolation,
identify their needs and provide the support and services they need, which may
include assigning volunteers to them, phone calls by social workers and/or
volunteers, home visits, and personal assistance (e.g. escort,
temporary/short-term home help services and home maintenance services). For
elders who have health problems, the DECCs/NECs may refer them to the Hospital
Authority for medical consultations. For those who have housing needs, the DECCs/NECs
may refer them to SWD for consideration for compassionate housing. For those who
have financial difficulties, the DECCs/NECs may help them apply for financial
assistance. For those who require subsidised community care or residential care
services, the DECCs/NECs may arrange for them the frailty test to assess their
eligibility for services.
Ends/Wednesday, March 28, 2007
Issued at HKT 14:49
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