The case of caregivers killing close relatives has become the number one homicide in Hong Kong.
In an interview with Hong Kong 01, former chairman of the Elderly Affairs Committee and current member of the association, Lin Zhengcai, said that he understands that caregivers are under a lot of pressure, but the situation may not be enough for the society to build consensus and promote policies.
When asked if he had to wait for a few more accidents before he could "take action", he said frankly: "Unfortunately, it can be said that regardless of the political system or political ecology in Hong Kong, the reality is tragically like this.
" Her husband, sister Qin, who is 70 years old this year, said that the current situation is very serious and she doesn’t want to be “depressed with a stick”. Only when tragedies happen will people pay attention and respond. The subsidy allows caregivers to have space to breathe, less financial troubles, and better coping with life.
"Rescue the Caregivers" Series Report
(Part 4)
Lin Zhengcai emphasized that the government undoubtedly shoulders the greatest responsibility for caregivers, but the whole society has to go one step further.
(Photo by Ou Jiale)
"Caregivers are an invisible disease." Former Elderly Commission Chairman and current trade union member Lin Zhengcai said in an interview with "Hong Kong 01". He is well aware of the pressure faced by caregivers, and other government officials will also have personal experience , it cannot be said that they are indifferent to the plight of caregivers.
The previous government also commissioned the Polytechnic University to conduct special research on the needs and support of caregivers. However, due to the different needs of caregivers, they cannot be simply defined, and the policy is still difficult to implement.
"Carers are not a defect, and they are not an easy-to-find group... nor will they come out to demonstrate or deliver letters like pressure groups." Lin Zhengcai said frankly that when the government formulates policies, it must be prioritized, " None of these invisible problems will be at the top of the list.” Especially in recent years of social turmoil, there are too many problems to be solved.
Lin Zhengcai also pointed out that helping caregivers is "prevention work", "prevention work will always have no votes in politics, and it will not be placed in the first place... it is the same all over the world."
Save the Caregivers 5｜Lin Zhengcai: The safety net cannot be built by the government alone
The reporter asked whether there must be more tragedies to build social consensus and promote policy changes?
Lin Zhengcai said frankly, "Regardless of Hong Kong's political system, or the political environment and ecology of the past, this is the sad reality." Does that mean that these bombs should be allowed to explode?
"A lot of times we really have to wait until a tipping point (trigger point) has passed." He described this situation as a tragedy in a civilized society.
Paradoxically, Hong Kong is a country that doesn't like to make long-term plans, and doesn't like to dig out serious problems that are invisible on the surface and clean them up from under the carpet.
Lin Zhengcai
Lin Zhengcai pointed out that the situation may not be enough to promote policy changes, but caregivers who face daily pressure cannot understand.
Sister Qin, one of the caregivers interviewed by "Hong Kong 01", has to take care of her husband with disabilities and dementia alone.
She pointed out that the situation is already very serious, and the problems are gradually emerging, but "he means, wait until all of them surface, and then do it if there is a loss."
Sister Qin went on to point out that these speeches are very "coping-style". She said frankly that she didn't want someone to notice and respond whenever an accident happened. If the caregivers of Bao do not have timely support and find space to breathe and relieve, it is easy to "cut corners" and lead to more tragedies.
She wants the government to increase the number of respite places and provide subsidies for carers.
I feel that (the situation) is serious, and (the problem) is gradually emerging. He means to wait until all of them surface, and then do it if there is a loss... I don’t think it is serious enough, so I don’t do it. Now it’s a "coping style". , do not move at all.
Sister Qin
My husband had multiple fractures and underwent surgery, so he was not good at walking, and he had to be supported by sister Qin when he went in and out.
(Photo by Wang Haitu)
Looking at several family tragedies, none of the cases were recipients. Lin Zhengcai admitted that the current social system requires people to raise their hands to ask for help. When people in need do not raise their hands, they need to think about how to help them.
Lin Zhengcai believes that the lowest level of safety net for caregivers can be extended, and it is difficult to rely solely on the government to build it. It needs "the whole society and every citizen to build it together."
He pointed out that the government plays an important role, but civil power is equally important. To build a safety net at the bottom of society to support caregivers, it depends on all members of society:
However, after the past few years, we really see that there are many holes in this safety net... This is what the government needs to think about, but it also needs the cooperation of the whole society. What is the family structure? These are deep-seated issues that we need to face.
Lin Zhengcai
Sister Qin is 70 years old and takes care of her 86-year-old husband alone.
(Photo by Ou Jiale)
Lin Zhengcai pointed out that the government has increased community care services in recent years (see table), and has shortened the waiting time from more than a year in the past to the current monthly calculation. In "good days and good areas", it can be almost zero waiting.
He said that in 2017, when he suggested that then-Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor include "zero-waiting for home-based community care for the elderly" in the policy address, he clearly stated that this was "policy poison and difficult to achieve", but he hoped that "as a long-term policy direction." , to give caregivers confidence.
I also said in advance that this (zero waiting time for care in home care communities) is a policy poison and cannot be achieved, but why did I suggest that she write it in?
If you can’t do it, it should be a long-term policy direction. These directions can give caregivers confidence that the government is working hard. We have not left the elderly behind and let them live in their homes. Instead, we will continue to improve so that we can achieve Community care is in place.
Lin Zhengcai
Lin Zhengcai hoped to use this to give confidence to the caregivers, but it happened to be this way of speaking, which disappointed Sister Qin the most.
I heard the person who made the suggestion at the beginning describe "zero waiting time for home care for the elderly community care" as "policy poison, it is difficult to achieve", even knowing that the waiting time for community and home care services has shortened, sister Qin still said this It made her lose confidence, and she was more worried about taking care of her husband in the future and her own life in old age.
She said that her husband is over 80 years old this year, and he doesn't have much time to wait. She hopes that the government "should it be said and implemented. If it is not implemented, it is useless to talk about it."
Responding to Sister Qin's situation, Lin Zhengcai believes that there should be a case manager to help caregivers find suitable services, and hopes that the elderly center will transform in the future, and the case manager will follow up high-risk, high-pressure, and complicated care cases for a long time.
Save the caregivers・Special page｜Who can support them in the darkness that the international metropolis dare not look directly at?
Rescue the caregiver・1｜A 70-year-old woman takes care of an 86-year-old demented husband on the verge of collapse How to sleep peacefully Rescue the caregiver・2｜A good man suffers from cognitive impairment and becomes grumpy An eighty-year-old wife seeks breathing spaceRescue the caregiver・3｜Social worker Calling for a list of actions before despair. Stop, stop, and re-see the choice to save caregivers. 4｜Lin Zhengcai: Tragedy happens frequently, but it is not enough to promote policy changes to save caregivers. 5｜Lin Zhengcai: The safety net cannot be built by the government alone