Replies to LegCo questions

Legislative Council Question No. 15 (Written Reply)

Date of Sitting: 1 December 1999

Asked by: Dr Hon David LI

Replied by: Secretary for Health and Welfare

Question:

It was reported that 97 cases of abuse of elderly people were reported to the Social Welfare Department in the first nine months of this year. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council :

(a) of the number of such abuse cases reported to the authorities in the past three years and whether these cases are on the rise;

(b) whether it will commission a study to examine the general causes of such abuses; and

(c) of its plans to contain the problem?

Reply :

Madam President,

(a) The 97 cases quoted was derived from a preliminary survey conducted by services units of the Social Welfare Department (SWD) and some elderly service centres operated by non-governmental organizations (NGOs) over a 12-month period ending September 1999. We do not have in hand readily available information and analysis of such data in the past three years.

(b) Elderly abuse is a complex problem. However, based on the analysis of the 97 reported cases and from overseas research findings, the factors which are relevant to elderly abuses are:
- relationship problem within the family;
- carers’ stress and lack of knowledge and skills in providing care to the elderly;
- crowded living environment and financial problems giving rise to family conflicts;
- poor mental health or behavioural problems of the abused;
- deterioration of mental health and personal problem of the abuser.

The Administration is studying the problem and considering how best to collect the information needed for better understanding of the extent and causes of elderly abuse in Hong Kong.

(c) Elderly abuses usually arise in families with acute relationship problems, as well as a lack of understanding of the needs of the elderly by other family members. The Administration has attached great importance to promoting care and respect for the elderly. We have produced Television Announcements of Public Interests (TV APIs) to drive home the theme of "Towards a Society for All Ages" in this International Year of Older Persons. TV APIs have also been produced to help the public to better understand elderly dementia and how to prevent elderly depression.

In addition, the following subsidized services are being provided:
- we have introduced a new service of carers’ support centres which provide information, training and emotional support to families which are taking care of their elderly.
- some care-and-attention homes are providing respite service to carers/elderly people in need. The SWD is conducting a review on this service with a view to promoting its use;
- we have introduced a day respite service by inviting several day care centres for the elderly to provide the service on a pilot basis; and

Other than the above measures and services, we will enhance the functioning of the family through family life education and counselling, strengthen our existing services including emergency placement in residential care homes for elderly people in urgent need, social networking services for vulnerable elderly people, and referrals for medical, psychological and psychiatric treatment where necessary. We will explore with parties concerned including SWD, Hospital Authority and NGOs on the setting up of a reporting system on elderly abuses. Front-line staff will be given training to assist them in detecting such cases.