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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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