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Following is a question by Hon Cheung Kwok-che and a reply by the Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Matthew Cheung Kin-chung, in the Legislative Council today (June 26):
Question:
Some social workers working in integrated community centres for mental wellness (ICCMWs) have relayed to me that a growing number of elderly persons suffering from dementia have been referred by elderly services units to their centres for counselling and welfare services. These social workers have indicated that as the manpower of social workers and ancillary facilities for such centres are now inadequate, they have found it increasingly difficult to cope with such work. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
(a) whether the elderly services units or those providing rehabilitation services for people recovering from mental illness (rehabilitation service providers) are entrusted by the Social Welfare Department (SWD) to be the main provider of services for the elderly suffering from dementia, and the reasons for such an arrangement; if such services should mainly be provided by ICCMWs, whether the Government will allocate additional resources to these centres for employing more social workers to cope with the service demand; if the services should be provided both by elderly services units and rehabilitation service providers, how SWD coordinates the allocation of resources and division of work between them;
(b) whether SWD has issued any guidelines to District Elderly Community Centres and Neighbourhood Elderly Centres regarding the provision of services for the elderly suffering from dementia; if it has, of the details; whether it has provided additional subsidies to such centres for employing additional manpower and meeting other relevant expenses; if it has, of the details; if not, the reasons for that; and
(c) as the number of elderly persons suffering from dementia will increase with the ageing population and consequently their demand for services will be growing, of the corresponding policies and measures of the Government to enhance and improve the relevant services?
Reply:
President,
My reply to the question raised by Hon Cheung Kwok-che is as follows:
(a) and (b) The Social Welfare Department (SWD) has all along been committed to providing appropriate services for the needy, including elderly persons suffering from dementia. Through various service units, including the rehabilitation service units and elderly service units, SWD provides effective support for the elderly with different needs.
At present, there are Integrated Community Centres for Mental Wellness (ICCMWs) in all 18 districts, providing one-stop mental health community support and social rehabilitation services ranging from early prevention to risk management for discharged mental patients, persons with mental health problems, their families, carers and residents living in the serving district. The elderly centres in various districts, on the other hand, aim to provide community support services for elderly persons and their carers at neighbourhood level, so that the elderly can receive multifarious services at the centres in the vicinity of their homes.
The Administration has been providing additional resources to strengthen the manpower of service units, enhance the services and relieve the pressure of their staff. For the three years since 2011-12, SWD has allocated additional recurrent provision of $60.5 million in total to enhance the manpower of the ICCMWs, including social workers, to cope with the service demand. As for community support services for the elderly, we have allocated additional annual recurrent provision of $60 million since 2008 to all District Elderly Community Centres (DECCs) and Neighbourhood Elderly Centres (NECs) across the territory to create a total of more than 200 social worker posts to strengthen the outreaching services of these centres and enhance counselling and referral services for the elderly. SWD does not keep itemised breakdown on the resources specifically used for the support for elderly with dementia. Furthermore, SWD has provided training on the skills for caring for elderly with dementia for social workers at elderly service units (including DECCs and NECs) so as to enhance the capabilities of these units in supporting such elderly persons and their family members.
For the elderly with long-term care needs (including those suffering from dementia), SWD provides a range of care services, including residential care services, day care services and home-based services. All these services cover cognitive training, memory training, reality orientation, reminiscence therapy, etc., which help strengthen the support for demented elderly. As regards the provision of resources, the Administration will provide a recurrent allocation of $216.9 million in 2013-14 for Dementia Supplement. SWD will also assist the service units in improving the facilities of residential care homes for the elderly and day care centres, purchasing bed monitoring systems, anti-wandering systems, facilities for multisensory therapy, etc., and providing regular training for staff and support for carers.
(c) The Food and Health Bureau has set up the Review Committee on Mental Health (Review Committee). It is tasked to review the existing mental health policy with a view to mapping out the future direction for the development of mental health services in Hong Kong, including support for persons suffering from dementia. The Review Committee is chaired by the Secretary for Food and Health. Its members include representatives from the healthcare and social welfare sectors, Legislative Councillors, academics and patients' families, as well as representatives of the Labour and Welfare Bureau and SWD. The Review Committee aims to conclude the review in about one year. The Elderly Commission is also concerned about the dementia issue and will actively follow up the work of, and collaborate with, the Review Committee.
Ends/Wednesday, June 26, 2013
Issued at HKT 14:51
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