'Elderly forced into care homes'

The government is forcing elderly people into care homes, a leading member of its own Elderly Commission claims.

Dr Lam Ching-choi, vice-chairman of the government advisory body and head of Haven of Hope Christian Service, said: "Government policies prioritise efficiency over quality of care, forcing the elderly into senior centres or into hospitals against their wishes."

He added: "The majority of the elderly don't want to live in senior centres, but Hong Kong has one of the highest percentages of people living in senior centres in the world. Since land is so scarce, it would actually make more sense for the government to improve personal care services so that the elderly can stay in their own homes."

Lam urged the government to adopt policies that will give elderly people a greater choice in care options. Such choices will affect the third of Hongkongers who are expected to be over 65 by 2041, according to research by the University of Hong Kong.

"If people want to die at home, it's so difficult to arrange the paperwork that people are forced to spend their last days in pain and discomfort in hospital wards," said Lam.

Haven of Hope matches elderly people with personal care workers and runs a grocery delivery service. Siu Bing, an elderly woman who lives on a Tseung Kwan O public housing estate near the Haven of Hope Hospital, said: "I have aching hands and can't walk well. With the delivery service, I only need to shop at the wet market once a week."