Project WE CARE

Date: 31/03/2019

Project is ended on 31 March 2019.

Introduction

The recent tragedies caused by tremendous caregiving stress have not only revealed the desperate physical and mental needs of caregivers, but also inadequacy of social services for caregivers. Research conducted by Census and Statistics Department in 2009 showed that half of the elders who were unable to self-care required different levels and forms of caregiving. Among them, 37.3% and 26.3% were taken care by the children and spouse respectively. The trend of “the elderly taking care of the elderly” becomes more obvious. Census and Statistics Department in 2011 found that there were 200 thousand “dual-old- families” in Hong Kong and the urge for improving support to the caregivers was immediate. With continuous support from the Community Chest, “Project We Care” dedicates to serve both frail elders and their caregivers from 2018 onwards.  The project aims at improving the living quality of elders and caregivers by providing daily living assistance. Through provision of a series of caregiver-centred programmes, we also aim at relieving caregivers’ stress, enhancing their wellbeing and the communication between them and the elders. Our objectives are:

1. To relieve caregivers' stress by providing daily living assistance to the elders.
2. Provide training and support to caregivers so as to increase their confidence and capability in taking care of elders.
3. To promote caregivers’awareness on their physical and mental wellbeing and facilitate them to live a healthy life.
4. To develop neighborhood and volunteer support networks so as to strengthen support to elders and caregivers in the community.

Service Target

• Living in Shamshuipo district, and
• Elders aged 60 or above who are incapable of self-care and their main caregivers (Priority will be given to dual-old families), and  
• Both caregivers and elders are willing to participate regularly in the project’s activities 

Service Boundary

Sham Shui Po District

Service Contents

1. Professional assessment by social worker and nurse, match and refer appropriate services to elders and caregivers through case management.
2. Regular visit by nurse to provide nursing support to elders and caregivers (including simple health check-up, consultation and nursing care training.)
3. Daily living assistance to frail elders (e.g. cooking, escort, purchase and delivery of daily necessities and home respite service) so as to relieve stress of their caregivers.
4. Set up "WE CARE Hotline" to provide professional consultation to caregivers.
5. Provide counselling and referral services to needy caregivers.
6. Provide comprehensive health checks to caregivers through collaboration with medical partners (Free of charge for caregivers from dual-old families)
7. Provide trainings to caregivers (e.g. caring skills, knowing community resources, individual health management)
   (Respite service will be provided to elders during programmes)
8. Family activities to facilitate better communication
9. Mutual support groups for caregivers WE CARE Ambassador" volunteer training and neighborhood support