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Secretary for Labour & Welfare Matthew Cheung
This year’s summer has been particularly hot. The Ice Bucket Challenge craze prevailing last month remains one of the hottest topics in the city. The activity has been successful in raising community concern towards amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients.
Earlier, some Legislative Council members have also named me in the challenge. Although I chose not to pour ice water in front of cameras, I did not cold shoulder the campaign. Instead, I show my support by paying a warm private visit to a severe ALS patient. My Under Secretary, Stephen Sui, also joined me and we decided to channel our contribution under the campaign directly to the patient with some consumables that he really needs. We also took the chance to catch up and exchange views with the chairman of the Hong Kong Neuro-Muscular Disease Association, Lau Wai-ming .
As the principal official responsible for the overall social welfare policies in Hong Kong, I care about the well-being of all persons with severe disabilities. As a matter of fact, the Government has all along been attaching great importance to enhancing our rehabilitation services. In 2014-15, the recurrent financial provision for this area has increased by 19% over 2013-14 to $5.1 billion, fully demonstrating the Government’s increasing commitment to assisting persons with disabilities. In recent years, we have also further enhanced our support to persons with severe physical disabilities on various fronts. Of course, there is still room for improvement in this regard.
We fully understand that persons with severe physical disabilities need more care and support. We are also fully aware of the immense pressure faced by their family members and carers. During the recent home visit, we not only witnessed the unwavering and loving care of the patient’s wife, but also the devotion and unfailing support of their foreign domestic helper. I salute them for their selfless dedication as caregivers.
On the Government’s part, I must point out that the Social Welfare Department has been providing a range of community support services to assist persons with illness-induced disabilities to continue to live in the community.
Among these, a three-year Pilot Scheme on Home Care Services for Persons with Severe Disabilities was launched by Social Welfare Department in March 2011 to provide a package of home-based services to persons with severe disabilities on the waiting list for subvented residential care service of hostels for the severely physically handicapped, hostels for the severely mentally handicapped or care and attention homes for severely disabled persons so as to alleviate the pressure of their families/carers. In view of the positive feedback, we have regularised the service in March this year and extended it to cover persons with severe disabilities not on the waiting list for subvented residential care services. The financial commitment for this scheme is about $200 million each year and we expect it to benefit about 3,000 persons.
Besides, Social Welfare Department provides various support services including Day Care Service for Persons with Severe Disabilities, Day and Residential Respite Services and Transitional Care & Support Centre for Tetraplegic Patients, et cetera.
To enhance support for severe tetraplegic patients, irrespective of whether the disabilities are illness-induced or injury-induced, the Community Care Fund has launched a number of assistance programmes since 2013 whereby eligible persons with severe physical disabilities are, taking into account their family income and assets, provided with a special care subsidy of a maximum amount of $2,500 and $2,000 per month for renting respiratory support medical equipment and purchasing related medical consumables.
To provide more comprehensive support to persons with severe physical disabilities, we have decided to regularise the above two programmes starting from the fourth quarter of this year, as well as to provide one-stop integrated support services with co-ordination by case managers in accordance with their needs.
Taking into account the current Higher Disability Allowance ($3,020 per month) under the Social Security Allowance Scheme, Community Care Fund’s Special Care Subsidy for the Severely Disabled (a maximum of $2,000 per month), and the amount of subsidy provided under the above two assistance programmes, a person of severe physical disabilities can receive up to $9,520 a month. This should help relieve their financial burden.
In addition to the Government’s resources, the support from charitable organisations is also important. Persons with disabilities and chronic patients who are not receiving Comprehensive Social Security Assistance may apply for immediate and short-term financial assistance from various charitable funds should they encounter financial difficulties.
Examples of such charitable funds are Yan Chai Tetraplegic Fund administered by Yan Chai Hospital Board for purchasing medical and rehabilitation appliances as well as subsidy for carers and purchase of medical consumables; the Ho Kam Yung Foundation administered by Hong Kong Federation of Handicapped Youth for purchase of rehabilitation products and equipment, and short-term subsidy for living expenses; and Li Po Chun Charitable Trust Fund, Tang Shiu Kin and Ho Tim Charitable Fund, Brewin Trust Fund and Kwan Fong Trust Fund for the Needy administered by Social Welfare Department for financial assistance for purchase of rehabilitation products and appliances.
Our medical social workers and the social workers of Integrated Family Service Centres or non-governmental organisations stand ready to assist those needy to apply for such charitable funds.
To foster mutual help and support among persons with disabilities and their families/carers, the Social Welfare Department has been providing financial support for self-help organisations for persons with disabilities or chronic illnesses since 2001 to facilitate their operation and development. In 2014-15, the annual recurrent financial provision has been increased to $15 million to strengthen support for these self-help organisations, including the Hong Kong Neuro-Muscular Disease Association.
The Social Welfare Department also funded the Community Rehabilitation Network to run six centres under the Hong Kong Society for Rehabilitation to provide community-based rehabilitation service for people with chronic illness and their families. With the assistance of healthcare professionals, including social workers, nurses, physiotherapists and occupational therapists, the Community Rehabilitation Network provides social-psychological support, community support, and developmental and recreational activities for persons with visceral disabilities or chronic illnesses so as to enhance the quality of life of them and their families.
The Community Rehabilitation Network also provides consultant and support services for self-help organisations for persons with disabilities and chronic illnesses, and the offices of some of these organisations are situated at the Community Rehabilitation Network centres.
I hope that the community-wide compassion engendered by the Ice Bucket Challenge for ALS patients and other persons with severe physical disabilities would not quickly subside. As for the Government, I and my colleagues responsible for rehabilitation policy will definitely keep up our passion and efforts in enhancing support for persons with disabilities in all aspects.
This article appeared on Secretary for Labour & Welfare Matthew Cheung's blog.
