bodyType

customContents

entityId

entityUuid

articlePageQuery

filter

article

articleBaseAdvertisingInfoArticle

articleListArticle

articleSeoArticle

hooksArticleAcknowledgementGateOverlayArticle

hooksTrackPageViewArticle

hooksContentInterestArticle

articleLinkingDataContent

hooksAmpRedirectArticle

articleSchemaContent

liveArticle

advertZone

sentiment

contentLock

topics

types

sections

paywallTypes

createdDate

publishedDate

urlAlias

moreOnThisArticles

sponsorType

commentCount

authorLocations

authors

corrections

displaySlideShow

multimediaEmbed

printHeadline

seriesContainer

articleSpeeches

socialHeadline

headline

images

flag

firstTopic

glossary

flattenTypeIds

image

relatedLinks

relatedNewsletters

__typename

sponsor

pdfFiles

seriesReverseOrder

series

disableOffPlatformContent

published

updatedDate

summary

subHeadline

body

keywords

readingTime

customTimezone

liveContents

Wynna Wong

Three in four Hong Kong carers suffer significant stress while looking after youngsters with conditions such as autism, a survey has found, with long hours and inadequate support among the complaints.
The autism-focused To Dream Charity Foundation on Sunday released the results of its poll of 220 carers conducted in April, shining a light on their daily pressures.
One of those who spoke to the foundation was Joan Moy, the primary carer for her 12-year-old autistic grandson.
“Daily care makes me feel tied down and affects my social life with friends,” Moy said at a press conference. “For the past three years, I have had to take care of him for 24 hours a day.”
The boy has multiple disabilities including a speech disorder and sensory sensitivities.
Nearly 80 per cent of the carers surveyed were women, while about 60 per cent were aged between 36 and 55.
The poll found that 30 per cent said they provided care for more than 17 hours a day, while about half of the carers rated their current life satisfaction as five or below out of 10.
Significant stress was reported by 75 per cent of respondents.
Moy said such pressures were amplified when she faced “judgmental looks” from others, giving the example of when her grandson became distressed on public transport due to lack of seating.
Carers also expressed worries about the futures of those they were looking after, with more than 60 per cent saying they foresaw “limited employment or future prospects” for the youngsters as a major challenge, along with financial difficulties and emotional distress.
Almost 30 per cent of carers also reported having no plans for when the children left school, saying that they had the primary responsibility for teaching essential self-care and life skills in the absence of structured school support.
Sindy Cat Lee shared her struggles in organising the daily life of her autistic son who had been out of school for five years.
She said she remained worried about her son’s long-term care and lack of social connections, despite his employment and increased independence.
“When he left school, a lot of support that we had disappeared,” she said. “We as parents were very worried because we had to go out and seek help for them, relying on other parents, others with similar experiences, and collect resources for our son so that he can live better.”
According to the survey, more than 80 per cent of care recipients had autism, 70 per cent had intellectual disabilities and almost 90 per cent reported multiple disabilities.

Nearly 80 per cent of those receiving care were male. Nearly 40 per cent of care recipients were 12 years old or younger, the largest group in the survey, followed by the 13 to 18 age group at about 30 per cent.
Foundation chairwoman Macy Chong Po-king called on authorities to do more to help carers, including establishing support centres by repurposing community spaces to offer training and facilitate mutual support.
She also proposed a six-month allowance of no less than HK$3,000 (US$386) a month for all carers to allow them to accompany and guide individuals with special needs in the workplace.
Chong said the initiative aimed to smoothen communication with employers and help residents with disabilities to adapt to new work environments quickly.
The allowance was currently only provided to low-income families, she said.
The foundation also called for a four-year vocational training programme, similar to models used by universities for individuals with special needs, as well as increased community education and engagement to foster understanding and alleviate pressure on carers.


Politicisation of Hong Kong’s fire tragedy in Western media a new low

‘Like a ghost town’: Hong Kong neighbourhood struggles to adjust after fatal fire

Hong Kong must build on foundations laid at successful Legal Week

10 pictures of 10 days of Hong Kong’s Tai Po tragedy, city’s deadliest fire in decades

Hong Kong society

‘Tied down’: Hong Kong carers of autistic youngsters under high stress, poll finds

The poll found that 30 per cent of carers said they looked after youngsters with special needs for more than 17 hours a day. Photo: Sam Tsang

To Dream Charity Foundation chairwoman Macy Chong has urged authorities to do more to help carers. Photo: May Tse

Hong Kong-based head of insurer calls for better policies to help people with autism

Damien Green, chairman of Manulife Financial Asia, has slammed the underwriting process for potential customers with autism. Photo: Edmond So

Green has said his earlier criticism of his employer’s “clinically dumb” underwriting policies for people with autism, such as his son, has attracted a positive response from the company and the wider industry. Photo: Handout

The Manulife chairman has said the shake-up might encourage more people to seek a diagnosis for the condition. Photo: Shutterstock

Hong Kong autism charity says new teams set up to aid pupils’ move from school to adult life have ‘unclear’ scope of operations

(From left) To Dream Charity Foundation chairwoman Macy Chong and group member Ruby Ching highlight the need for more support for special needs school leavers. Photo: Xiaomei Chen

The mother of an autistic pupil due to leave school in July says she is confused about the role of new community support teams. Photo: Xiaomei Chen

News

Hong Kong

Society

Long hours and lack of support among pressures reported in survey of 220 carers by To Dream Charity Foundation


Long hours and lack of support among pressures reported in survey of 220 carers by To Dream Charity Foundation.


Mental health