Elderly Hongkongers to get health checks while receiving free food from community workers in new programme
- Polytechnic University will join Food Angel for community health monitoring programme targeting elderly residents
- Community workers will upload data to online platform to be analysed by nurses for follow-up
Hong Kong Polytechnic University and a food distribution charity will launch a two-year community health monitoring programme targeting elderly residents, funded by the Li Ka Shing Foundation.
The university and Food Angel, operated by the Bo Charity Foundation, announced on Wednesday they would train 40 community workers to measure different health indicators of residents.
While delivering food to 100 elderly residents living in Sham Shui Po, the workers will record their vital signs, such as blood oxygen level, blood pressure, pulse and pain index. They will upload the data to an online platform to be analysed by nurses for follow-up action.
Dr Arkers Wong Kwan-ching, an assistant professor at PolyU’s School of Nursing and the programme leader, said the scheme was the first of its kind in Hong Kong.
“We want to take the first step and let the government see what we are doing,” he said.
The foundation donated HK$11.15 million (US$1.4 million) to finance the programme.
“The partnership is the demonstration of ‘the power of and’, which means the elderly will receive not only free food but also medical support,” Li, 95, said. “On the other hand, housewives who are Food Angel’s community workers and beneficiaries of free food become givers and takers of the services.”