The government-appointed Northern District Community Service Consultative Council held its regular monthly meeting yesterday, where members urged the government to strengthen support for elderly carers.
The first part of the meeting, held at the Patane Activity Centre, was open to the media, during which committee members raised several issues in their speeches. The meeting then proceeded behind closed doors, where Social Welfare Bureau (IAS) Department of Social Solidarity Chief U Ka Wai, Senior Service Division Community Service and Programme Unit Acting Chief Tang Chi Teng, and official Wong Weng Ian outlined the progress of the government’s 10-Year Action Plan for Elderly Services.
According to a report by the Post, the elderly services plan comprises 96 action strategies centred around four key areas: Physical and Mental Well-being, Active Ageing, Diversified Provision, and Social Inclusion.
The council’s deputy convenor, Chan Ian Ian, recommended that the bureau make use of civil organisations’ networks to establish permanent digital support stations. These would help senior citizens to master apps such as the “Macao One Account” platform, outpatient appointment bookings, and electronic payments, enabling them to truly benefit from the convenience of smart elderly care.
Meanwhile, deputy convenor Wong Chio U recommended that the local government accelerate the elderly-friendly renewal of the city’s old quarters, improve transport connections to various hospitals, and increase the provision of accessible toilets in public venues.
In the post-meeting press briefing, Chan cited an IAS statement released to councillors during the meeting.
According to the bureau, between this and next year, the plan will roll out 77 action strategies and 104 implementation plans. These cover 14 measures concerning physical and mental well-being, 27 concerning active ageing, 26 concerning diversified provision for the elderly*, and 37 concerning social inclusion.
Specific measures include piloting advance care planning at two elderly residential care homes; setting up pop-up healthy community stations; conducting health assessments for high-risk elderly persons; establishing a reward scheme for elderly volunteers; helping the elderly become familiar with AI apps; implementing a public library volunteer programme; supporting elderly care in the Greater Bay Area (GBA) through a pilot scheme; improving the ongoing 15-minute community elderly service circle on a pilot basis in Seac Pai Van; and regularly assessing the scope for adjusting the government’s old-age pension.
Fellow councillor Ip Weng Hong cited colleagues’ concerns regarding issues such as the carers’ allowances, the government’s high-rise rental residential building for senior citizens, and improvements to disability assessments.
IAS officials said that the bureau will continue to study the scope for adjusting usage fees for the high-rise rental residential building for senior citizens, adding that a mechanism has already been put in place to exempt persons with long-term and permanent disabilities from annual reassessments. In the future, the bureau will also assess the scope for adjusting the carers’ allowances.
*Diversified provision for the elderly refers to a multi-channel social care model that relies on multiple providers – rather than the government alone – to deliver aged-care services, accommodation, and support systems. – DeepSeek
Northern District Community Service Consultative Council Deputy Convenor Chan Ian Ian (right) and Councillor Ip Weng Hong look on during yesterday’s press briefing after the government-appointed council’s closed-door meeting at the Patane Activity Centre on Avenida de Demétrio Cinatti. – Photo: Armindo Neves
