A leaflet promoting elderly care services is being prepared for seniors' families after a son killed his elderly mother in Hung Hom, the Social Welfare Department says.

Speaking on a radio talk show this morning, Assistant Director of Social Welfare Kathy Ng said the leaflet, jointly prepared by her department with the Department of Health, will publicise all the present community support services, including emotional counseling and talks on elderly care techniques, offered to seniors' families to alleviate their pressure.

Ms Ng said the department's 11 elderly homes offer temporary care services, while the other 130 homes also offer such service if vacancies are available.

She said temporary day-care service will be offered on the spot, while the elderly person is required to apply through social workers for overnight temporary care service, which will span one or two days including a brief body check.

Emergency overnight care

To help more people to tap this service, Ms Ng said each elderly is entitled to temporary overnight care service for a maximum of six weeks in a year, adding flexibility will apply in special needs' cases.

In addition, she said 101 elderly homes provide emergency overnight care service to families with unforeseen needs, where the elderly can have body check after intake.

Also participating in the talk show, Assistant Director of Health Dr Chan Wai Man said the department's outbound elderly healthcare teams have offered regular support to all elderly homes.

Dr Chan said the service standard of privately-run elderly homes has been improving in the past eight years after the regulatory framework was put in place.

Hotline help

Ms Ng admitted there are differences in service quality at the private elderly homes, but stressed the present licensing system and assessment criteria are effective in monitoring their services.

Both Dr Chan and Ms Ng urged families in need to call the hotlines 2121 8080 (Department of Health) or 2343 2255 (Social Welfare Department) for support.