The following is issued on behalf of the Legislative Council Secretariat:
The Legislative Council (LegCo) Subcommittee on Issues Relating to the Silver Age Card conducted a visit today (July 20) to the Jockey Club "age at home" Gerontech Education and Rental Service Centre, as well as the Gerontech Cleaning and Maintenance Service Centre in Sha Tin to better understand the latest gerontech applications in Hong Kong.
Accompanied by the Under Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Ho Kai-ming, Members first visited the Gerontech Cleaning and Maintenance Service Centre. They were briefed by representatives from the Centre on Hong Kong's first pilot scheme on Gerontech Education and Rental Service. They also learnt about the target group and service flow of the Centre. Members noted that the service, which runs for four and a half years, is provided by the Hong Kong Council of Social Service in partnership with the Hong Kong Red Cross, Evangelical Lutheran Church Social Service-Hong Kong and St James' Settlement and funded by the Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust. It aims to provide frail elderly persons and their carers with education and consultation services, as well as assessments on the users' physical condition and home environment. The service allows users to rent, on a monthly basis, gerontech equipment, such as wheelchairs that can be used as rollators, smart hospital beds with extra low position and multi-purpose handrails, for use at home or in the community.
Members then visited the Jockey Club "age at home" Gerontech Education and Rental Service Centre to learn more about its education, training and rental services. Members also took the opportunity to exchange views with Care Equipment Counsellors and understood the needs of elders and their carers.
Members who participated in the visit were the Chairman of the Subcommittee, Mr Wilson Or; Subcommittee Members Mr Leung Che-cheung, Mr Kwok Wai-keung and Mr Vincent Cheng.
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