Govt Urged To End 'year Of Torture' For Care Homes

The Elderly Services Association on Wednesday urged the government to ease visiting restrictions at elderly care homes as soon as possible, saying discussions on how this could happen need to begin immediately.

The association’s chairman, Kenneth Chan, was speaking on an RTHK programme after the government said it was looking into whether its Covid-19 vaccination drive could bring about the relaxation of some social distancing restrictions.

An executive councillor, Lam Ching-choi, had earlier said that the government is considering letting vaccinated care home residents and their visitors meet in designated rooms with proper ventilation. But he said this could take up to two months before it can be tried out, given the schedule for vaccinations at care homes.

Chan said the government has not yet discussed the issue with the sector, but discussions needed to happen “now”.

A woman who called in to the RTHK programme said it had been “a year of torture” for care home residents and their families.

The woman, surnamed Ng, made an emotional plea for special arrangements to be put in place so she could visit her husband, who has Parkinson’s disease and can no longer speak or express himself.

"My husband is a victim in this pandemic,” she said, as she described how her husband had lost the ability to eat as his health deteriorated during the pandemic.

“He's been in and out of hospital because of the anxiety stemming from not being able to see his family.”

Chan said visits should be allowed again in phases, and care homes would need to meet certain requirements, such as residents and staff being inoculated.

The head of the association suggested that care homes should have a separate meeting space for vaccinated residents and families to meet, while acknowledging that some facilities might not have enough space.

He also proposed that all visits should be booked through appointment.

Chan admitted that not many the elderly care home residents have received the coronavirus jabs because of health limitations or a lack of confidence – but said authorities should also look into how they can meet visitors.