Hong Kong ombudsman to probe respite services for carers after string of tragedies

Hong Kong’s ombudsman will launch an investigation into respite services for carers of the elderly and disabled, pointing to tragedies in recent years where people have succumbed to “unbearable pressure”.

Ombudsman Jack Chan Jick-chi announced the move two days after the bodies of a bedridden 82-year-old woman and her son, 60, were found on Wednesday, with investigators believing the man died first, leaving no one to take care of his mother.

“In recent years, there have been tragic incidents from time to time when carers succumb to unbearable pressure,” the ombudsman’s office said on Friday.

“Failure to rescue in cases involving ‘the elderly caring for the elderly’, ‘the elderly caring for the disabled’, and ‘the disabled caring for the disabled’ have also resulted in tragic incidents.”

The watchdog said government data suggested short-term day and residential respite services for the elderly and disabled might not be fully utilised.

It said it had also noted opinions suggesting such services were unevenly distributed across Hong Kong, the application procedures involved were complicated and support measures were insufficient.