Being a caregiver is a rewarding yet demanding role. The stress facing carers in Hong Kong is mounting amid an ageing population and insufficient support for them. It’s high time to make changes and connect them with timely, useful services.
Care for caregivers
Carers are enormously crucial sources of support to the elderly and disabled. However, carer distress is becoming a growing cause for concern in Hong Kong.
Due to factors such as a rapidly ageing population, longer life expectancy and older people’s preference for ageing in place, there is an increased reliance on family members as carers. And as they age themselves, their ability to look after others is slowly losing.
There are some 240,000 people providing long-term care for about 300,000 elderly citizens in Hong Kong. A survey conducted in 2023 found that over 40% of elderly caregivers provide care alone. One-third feel immense pressure, leading to tiredness, irritation and feeling of tension. In addition, nearly 90% have never used short-term residential care service (respite services) mainly because they are not aware such measures exist.
Apart from carers supporting senior citizens, there are also those who look after their own children with intellectual disabilities. This group of disabled people constitute about 1% of the population.
The stress and challenges facing all these unsung heroes had long been overlooked. Nevertheless, more efforts are now being made by the government and concern groups to support them via a range of carer-centric services.
The Hong Kong Jockey Club is committed to promoting the mental and physical well-being of carers and fostering a carer-friendly society. We have initiated a project that features service centres in different districts, connecting over 40,000 carers and elderly people in need of help to timely and appropriate services. A diversity of thoughtful services is designed to enhance carers’ well-being, including leisure space, respite care, research and validated assessment to delve into their needs.
Due to factors such as a rapidly ageing population, longer life expectancy and older people’s preference for ageing in place, there is an increased reliance on family members as carers. And as they age themselves, their ability to look after others is slowly losing.
There are some 240,000 people providing long-term care for about 300,000 elderly citizens in Hong Kong. A survey conducted in 2023 found that over 40% of elderly caregivers provide care alone. One-third feel immense pressure, leading to tiredness, irritation and feeling of tension. In addition, nearly 90% have never used short-term residential care service (respite services) mainly because they are not aware such measures exist.
Apart from carers supporting senior citizens, there are also those who look after their own children with intellectual disabilities. This group of disabled people constitute about 1% of the population.
The stress and challenges facing all these unsung heroes had long been overlooked. Nevertheless, more efforts are now being made by the government and concern groups to support them via a range of carer-centric services.
The Hong Kong Jockey Club is committed to promoting the mental and physical well-being of carers and fostering a carer-friendly society. We have initiated a project that features service centres in different districts, connecting over 40,000 carers and elderly people in need of help to timely and appropriate services. A diversity of thoughtful services is designed to enhance carers’ well-being, including leisure space, respite care, research and validated assessment to delve into their needs.
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