Policy Address

Support Carers

199. The Government is committed to supporting carers. In addition to providing carers' allowance, respite services, a one-stop information gateway and the 24-hour Designated Hotline for Carer Support 182 183, we launched the District Services and Community Care Teams – Pilot Scheme on Supporting Elderly and Carers in Tsuen Wan and Southern District this March. Trained by the SWD, Care Teams of the two districts identify and reach out to households in need, and provide support to the elderly and carers who seek help from the Designated Hotline. The scheme has achieved good results. In the past six months, the Care Teams visited 4 700 families and referred about 900 cases to social welfare organisations for follow-up. Next year, we will extend the scheme to across the territory, supporting elderly persons and carers in all 18 districts.

200. We will also explore the setting up of an inter-disciplinary and inter-organisation database. It will cover carers of elderly persons and carers of persons with disabilities (PWDs) and the use of identification tools designed by university teams for the detection of high-risk cases and early intervention and support.