Press Release

New Elderly Health Services to be launched

June 12, 1998

Elderly Health Services in Hong Kong will take a huge stride from July 2 with the launch of a series of new programmes.

The thrust of the new programmes will be the setting up of 18 elderly health centres (EHCs) and 18 visiting health teams (VHTs) by early 2000.

In his Policy Address last year, the Chief Executive has pledged to provide the new services for the benifit of the elderly.

The objective is to enhance primary health care to the elderly, improve their self-care ability, encourage healthy living and strengthen family support so as to minimise illness and disability.

The new Elderly Health Services will provide curative care in addition to preventive and promotive services such as health education and screening.

Introducing the new service at a press conference today, an Assistant Director of Health (Elderly Health Services), Dr Leung Pak-yin said 18 locations, one in each district, had been identified for the establishment of a new-style EHC to address the multiple health need of those aged 65 and above.

Seven of these centres will start operation from July 2, 1998. Five other centres will commence service from early 1999 and the remaining six centres will be set up by early 2000.

"The Centres will adopt an integrated, multi-disciplinary approach for clients with chronic diseases and acute problems. It will also conduct screening for members on common health risk factors and diseases," Dr Leung said.

"Members will be given an annual physical check up and health assessment. Follow-up visits and curative treatment by doctors or counselling by paramedical personnel will be arranged whenever necessary.

"Referrals to other specialists are given according to the client's condition."

At the same time, these Elderly Health Centres will play an important role in promoting elderly health.

Health education and promotion activities such as health talks, weight reduction and quit smoking workshops, support groups on common health problems and risk factors as well as health exercise classes will be organised.

To promote community participation, volunteers will be recruited to help organise such activities.

The Department of Health expects that each EHC will handle about 2 300 clients annually, with six curative sessions a week and an estimated total of 10 700 attendance per year.

The annual enrollment fee will be $110 which covers preventive and promotive services as well as annual health check. Curative service will be charged at the same rate as general out-patient service which is $37 at the moment.

Fees will be waived for Comprehensive Social Security Assistance (CSSA) recipients and those who experience financial hardship.

"In the meantime, 18 VHTs will be established in the districts corresponding to the 18 centres," Dr Leung said.

"The teams will work closely with other care providers to disseminate widely health knowledge in the community, using the 'train the trainer/helper' approach as far as possible."

Health education programmes will be developed and delivered in a format agreeable to the end-users, including talks, workshops, sharing group, discussion sessions, games and health education materials.

Client groups include elderly capable of self-care, formal and informal carers, home helpers and private home staff. These people may also approach the health teams directly for arrangement for topics of concern, and a "health education kit" will be developed with inputs from related disciplines.

It is estimated that each VHT will deliver around 480 programme-sessions with 11 000 client-contacts per year.

In addition, the teams will provide annual influenza vaccination to elderly living in residential care homes. About 40 000 elderly residing in 600 elderly homes will be covered.

To give the public a better understanding of the new services, publicity posters, pamphlets and newsletter will be printed, Dr Leung said.

An Elderly Health Services Information Hotline : 2121 8080, using an interactive voice response system, will also commence operation in July to publicise the new services and promote the knowledge of elderly health and disease prevention.

Enrollment with the new Elderly Health Services commences from July 2 at the following seven centres: