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Introduction
In the face of the complex transformation of Hong Kong society, the Felizberta Lo Padilla Tong School of Social Sciences of the Caritas Institute of Higher Education has conducted a series of studies on how to support disadvantaged groups in an ageing society and train talented individuals with innovative thinking, effective knowledge and skills, in order to jointly promote "social care" and improve the quality of life in society.
The Ageing Crisis and the Need for Social Care
In the midst of numerous societal challenges, Professor TSUI Ming Sum, Dean of the Felizberta Lo Padilla Tong School of Social Sciences, pointed out that one of the issues that deserves great attention is the aging of the population. According to the United Nations, life expectancy in Hong Kong has increased from 60 years in 1950 to 85.29 years in 2023, which is the highest in the world. Based on big data analysis, the mortality rate of the age group above 85 in Hong Kong is lower than that of other advanced regions. In addition to high per capita income, longer life expectancy in Hong Kong may be related to medical factors (such as BMI levels and smoking rates), public health policies (such as medical and elderly care spending), as well as environmental, social and cultural factors. In the long run, he believes that research should focus more on healthy longevity, exploring how to enjoy a long life in a healthy way, rather than simply living a long life.
Professor WONG Yu Cheung, Associate Dean of the Felizberta Lo Padilla Tong School of Social Sciences expresses that due to the fast-growing elderly population caused by the increase in longevity, low-birth rates and emigration pressures, there will be profound implications for society and the economy. This requires policy responses. The Government should make policy adjustments to expand the silver hair market to meet the needs of daily life, increase health and long-term care services, build an age-friendly environment, integrate the older people into the labour force, and encourage them to participate in community services. It is urgent to formulate policies and social services to support family caregivers in order to create more opportunities for the older people to maintain their quality of life and, where possible, to make use of their abilities to contribute to society. Given the background and future trends, professional staff with relevant knowledge and skills are in great demand to meet new challenges and opportunities.
In response to the recent series of tragedies related to caregivers, Professor CHONG Ming Lin Alice, Research Professor of the Felizberta Lo Padilla Tong School of Social Sciences, proposes that the community must establish a suitable environment for caregivers to help them cope with the pressure and get out of difficult situations. Different organizations have already established some initiatives to cater to the caregivers' service needs. She believes that this is a good opportunity to integrate the wisdom of various professionals, develop different innovative work models, and promote services that support caregivers.
Ms. CHAN Wing Yee Constance, a Social Service Manager from the Social Services Division of the Yan Oi Tong, based on her experience in promoting caregivers' mental health, found that caregivers sometimes focus on meeting the care recipient's' needs and forget about their own difficulties. She pointed out that caregivers need to understand the importance of self-care, how to establish positive thinking, and build support networks. It is important to support caregivers in various ways to perform their role in the long term.
A Shortage of Manpower to Support Social Care
Professor CHONG Ming Lin also noted that while many NGOs have launched some innovative services, their staff face heavy workloads balancing multiple professional services. In addition to social workers and nursing staff, involving other professional staff who care about society and possess knowledge and skills to improve societal wellbeing is becoming increasingly important.
The Urgency to Launch a Programme on Social Care
Dr. CHO Yin Nei Esther, Associate Professor of the Felizberta Lo Padilla Tong School of Social Sciences and Coordinator for the Bachelor of Social Sciences (Honours) - Social Care Stream, stated that in response to the urgency of promoting social care and the need for manpower training, a special programme on social care is specifically launched (see attached leaflet) to cultivate talents with relevant knowledge and skills to meet the demand for manpower in the field of ageing policies, provide effective community support, and possess the abilities to improve society, such as community collaboration, and innovative thinking and strategies. It is worth noting that the knowledge and skills learned in the Social Care Stream are not only applicable to the social context of an ageing population, but also to dealing with various other social problems.
Closing Remarks
Hong Kong's population structure is moving towards ageing, and the proportion of people who have to bear the burden of support will continue to increase. We must be prepared early and adjust our research, social policies, work models, and human resources training to help society face challenges ahead.