Hong Kong’s elderly carers are at a ‘high risk’ of physical and mental health problems, survey finds
Call for more government support after study shows that many people caring for the elderly in Hong Kong are faced with a heavy physical and emotional burden
A quarter of carers for the elderly in Hong Kong are at a “high risk” of having physical and mental issues, and many are also ageing themselves, according to a survey released on Thursday.
The Hong Kong Council of Social Service, which conducted the research with the University of Hong Kong’s Sau Po Centre on Ageing, called for better government support for people who take care of the elderly.
Most of the 1,115 interviewees, with an average age of 70, were taking care of their spouses.
The survey found that 25 per cent of carers who had to take care of their elderly family members reported having three psychosocial health problems at the same time.
They were considered a “high risk” group, as they reported experiencing a heavy burden for caregiving, having symptoms of depression and “poor family function”– meaning weak family relationships.
“With such an emotional burden, the perceived burden on the caregiver and also the perceived dysfunctioning of family, they would not be able to perform this great role on providing care to their family members,” director of the HKU centre, Dr Vivian Lou Wei-qun, said.