The findings of a survey released yesterday show that only 29 percent of the respondents aged 50 or over said that they are satisfied or very satisfied with the elderly care facilities and services available in the community, while 66 percent of them described the situation as “mediocre”.
The survey was carried out between July and earlier this month by the Macau Federation of Trade Unions (commonly known as Gung Luen in Cantonese) in collaboration with the private University of Saint Joseph’s (USJ) Macao Observatory for Social Development. The former held a press conference on its premises yesterday to announce the survey’s findings.
The survey collected 801 valid questionnaires from local residents aged 50 or above.
According to the press conference, the survey’s findings also show that 42 percent of the respondents said that they need home-based elderly care services*. However, the findings show that 36 percent of the respondents said that they do not know the concept of home-based elderly care services.
The survey’s findings also show that 46 percent of the respondents said that they would need home-visit nursing care services provided by social service organisations.
Lawmaker-cum-unionist Lam Lon Wai, a Gung Luen vice-chairman, suggested that the government strengthen collaboration with social service organisations in the private sector in jointly providing home-visit medical diagnosis and treatment for those with chronic diseases, with the aim of relieving pressures on the operations of hospitals.
* Home-based elderly care enables seniors to age independently at home through personalised support. It includes essential daily assistance, specialised nursing care, and vital companionship. This approach enhances well-being, provides family peace of mind, and effectively delays institutionalisation. – DeepSeek
Legislator-cum-unionist Lam Lon Wai, a Gung Luen vice-chairman, speaks to reporters on the sidelines of yesterday’s press conference about the survey’s findings. – Photo courtesy of TDM
