SLW visits elderly and rehabilitation facilities (with photos)

     The Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Dr Law Chi-kwong, visited elderly and rehabilitation facilities today (August 28) and met with Tuen Mun District Council (TMDC) members.

     He first called at Chi Lin Care and Attention Home (C&AH) and Chi Lin Day Care Centre for the Elderly in Diamond Hill at noon and visited elderly persons. The medical centre in the C&AH arranges for doctors to provide consultation and health checks for residents. Dental clinics are also available for oral care and dental treatment. Apart from providing personal care, rehabilitation exercises, health education and carers' support for elderly clients, the Day Care Centre also arranges self-care, cognition, behavioural and psychological training to help dementia patients slow down mental deterioration and improve their quality of life.

     The Day Care Centre is a Recognised Service Provider under the Pilot Scheme on Community Care Service Voucher for the Elderly. The Government will increase service vouchers under the Second Phase of the Pilot Scheme to a total of 6 000 from October 2018 onwards to enhance "ageing in place" support for elderly persons with moderate or severe impairment. The Social Welfare Department is inviting eligible non-governmental organisations, social enterprises and private organisations to submit application for joining the scheme by August 31.

     Accompanied by the Under Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Caspar Tsui, and the District Social Welfare Officer (Tuen Mun), Mr Ricky Yu, Dr Law went to Tuen Mun Long Stay Care Home of the New Life Psychiatric Rehabilitation Association in the afternoon and visited patients with chronic mental illness. The care home provides residential services, care, mental rehabilitation and life skills training for patients in stable condition who still require care, so as to facilitate their integration into the community gradually.

     He toured various facilities and learnt more about the multi-disciplinary care services provided by care attendants, social work personnel and nurses. He noted that the care home was equipped with an anti-wandering system, which helps elderly residents to avoid getting lost, and a ceiling hoist system, which assists residents with impaired mobility to go to the toilet or bath. In addition, physiotherapists and occupational therapists at the care home introduced physical training technology to arouse trainees' interest and enhance the effectiveness of therapy.

     Dr Law said the ageing of persons with disabilities increases the demand for rehabilitation and residential services, and the use of gerontechnology can better address increasingly complex care needs and reduce the burden on care staff. In addition, he added, the Government has allocated additional resources this year to strengthen care for ageing rehabilitation service users.

     After the visit, Dr Law met with TMDC members to discuss labour and welfare matters.