The caregiver platform forum puts forward a number of initiatives to promote reform and formulate policies based on the social care model

District 18 News

Written by: Lu Ningmin

2020-10-25 23:35

Last update date: 2020-10-25 23:35

The "Carers Platform", which focuses on the needs of carers, held an online forum last Saturday (24th) to discuss the lack of community support for carers and propose different policy initiatives, hoping to establish more carers-friendly policies. Reduce their pressure.

The attendees included Li Zhirong, representative of the Association of Parents of Severely Mentally Handicapped Persons, Li Yinguo, representative of the Working Group of the Carers of the Hong Kong Council of Social Service, Yang Yu, Chairman of the Sham Shui Po District Council, and Dr. Leung Liqing, former associate professor of the Department of Applied Social Sciences at City University.

Li Yinguo believes that caring for the needy is a common responsibility of the entire society, and proposed 6 plans for carers.

Dr. Liang Liqing explained to the attendees the difference between the family care model and the social care model. He pointed out that the family care model adopted in the formulation of policies in Hong Kong has caused many social injustices.

The "Carers Platform" that focuses on the needs of caregivers held an online forum on Saturday (24th) to discuss the lack of community support for carers, and propose different policy initiatives, hoping to establish more carers-friendly policies and reduce Their pressure.

(Picture of the caregiver platform Facebook)

The Caregiver Platform is composed of 18 organizations including social welfare units for carers, carers for the elderly, carers of the disabled, and mentally ill patients. It is hoped that the public will pay attention to the needs of carers by proposing initiatives and education about carers. It has been established so far 2 years.

Li Zhirong, a representative of the Association of Parents of Severely Mentally Handicapped People, said that the needs of caregivers are divided into four categories, including physical, mental, social and spiritual (physical, spiritual, social and spiritual). Every detail also needs to be taken care of, but the caregivers themselves may not pay attention to them.

Li Zhirong pointed out that the tragedy in Kwai Chung Village last month caused many caregivers to fluctuate. He described the tragedies related to caregivers repeated in Hong Kong, but the problem has not been resolved. This stems from the fact that the government uses individual cases as a division of units when formulating policies. Instead of considering the needs of the whole family, the government is urged to set up a committee on people with disabilities and carers to follow up relevant policy plans, and carers should join the committee to provide first-person opinions.

He also encouraged caregivers not to neglect their own rights, and to express their needs and ask for help from fellow travelers, "If you don't do it, your voice will slowly disappear."

Li Zhirong, representative of the Association of Parents Association of Severely Mentally Handicapped People, said that caregivers tend to ignore their own needs.

(Profile picture)

Caregivers often forget their needs

Li Yinguo, a representative of the Caregiver Working Group of the Hong Kong Council of Social Service, put forward six plans for carers.

Including the need for carers to be carers-oriented when formulating carers’ policies, it is hoped that the authorities can conduct extensive research and investigations to show the public the needs of carers.

The second is to confirm the role, identity and contribution of the carers. The value of their care work must be affirmed, and substantial support or assistance in this respect must be provided.

Third, to protect the carers' right to obtain information, training and services, and urge the government to establish a one-stop information platform to facilitate carers to obtain useful information.

The fourth is to reduce the burden of carers through services and financial support. It is recommended that the government should regularize carers’ allowances and provide different forms of financial assistance.

Fifth, pay attention to the health and quality of life of the carers. Since carers have spent a lot of energy on caring work and neglect their own physical and mental needs, they understand that they need to care for themselves and ensure the quality of life.

The last one is to create a friendly work, study and living space and environment for carers, including providing on-the-job and school support. Many carers leave work or study to focus on their work, which seriously affects their development space.

Sham Shui Po District Council chairperson urges 18 districts to promote caregiver care

Sham Shui Po District Council Chairman Yang Yu said that the Sham Shui Po District Council established a working group last year and conducted a survey on the caregiver's friendliness. He suggested that the 18 District Councils work together to promote a plan to pay attention to the needs of carers. "Are there any lack of care and facilities in the community? At the district council level, these data are needed to promote improvements. I hope that every district can conduct these surveys and follow up the data.” He also specifically mentioned that the district will soon establish a parent relative resource center to provide parents with stronger support.

Sham Shui Po District Council Chairman Yang Yu said that the Sham Shui Po District Council established a working group last year and conducted a survey on the caregiver friendliness. He suggested that the 18 District Councils work together to promote a plan to focus on the needs of caregivers.

(Profile picture)

"Some women have high work ability, but they need to take care of their families at home and sacrifice their careers because the whole care policy believes that taking care of the family is the bounden duty of women, and they have to bear this responsibility, creating gender inequality."

Dr. Liang Liqing, former associate professor of the Department of Applied Social Sciences, City University

Dr. Leung Lai Ching has dealt with several studies on caregivers in the past and summarized the three major problems of Hong Kong’s caregiver policies, including insufficient public service places, difficulty in meeting family needs in service arrangements, and high fees for services provided in the market.

She also shared the difference between the family care model and the social care model. "Whether Hong Kong formulates child/elderly/disabled care policies, the government adopts a family care model."

Liang Liqing described that Hong Kong is currently adopting a family care model to formulate caregiver policies, and many problems have arisen.

(Data Picture/Photo by Gao Zhongming)

However, she proposed that the family care model should be adopted to formulate policies, which gave rise to many problems. "The family care model is based on the traditional family concept. Family care is the one who takes care of it? It is the person who does not need to work." The concept of "in the master" is out of fashion. This idea has made women the main caregiver at home. Their needs are often ignored. The opportunities for women to go out for employment will also decrease. "Some women have high working ability but need to take care of their families at home. Sacrifice career, because the entire care policy considers that taking care of the family is the bounden duty of women, and they must bear this responsibility, creating an unequal gender relationship."

In addition, the government uses a strategy of low intervention to provide services. If public resources fail to meet the demand, it will rely on the private market, "but low-income families cannot afford the high service charges"; and the government lacks long-term planning and does not respond to the family model Change and demographic changes to change the direction of policy.

Therefore, she advocates a social care model, led by the government, connecting different stakeholders in the society, and sharing responsibility at the care level.

Liang Liqing gave an example that caregivers in Taiwan can receive corresponding allowances when they reach a certain number of hours of care. "The government needs to provide support and training to caregivers."

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