Hong Kong elderly suffering depression and anxiety, survey finds, sparking calls for more support
- Half of city’s lower-income elderly have moderate to severe depression or anxiety, poll finds
- Society for Community Organisation says more help needed for solo vulnerable elderly and couples
Half of Hong Kong’s lower-income elderly have moderate to severe depression or anxiety, a poll carried out by a university and a welfare campaign group has found.
The results of the survey, released on Sunday, sparked an appeal for the government to do more to improve neighbourhood support for elderly people in need.
The Society for Community Organisation (SoCO) said the government should expand an existing pilot scheme and fund more part-time “community carers” to support underprivileged elderly people.
“With more community carers, they can offer more personalised and flexible services to fill service gaps as many current [subsidised social] services have long queues and lengthy waiting processes,” SoCO community organiser Crystal Yuen Shuk-yan said.
The group also asked the government to improve access to primary healthcare services for low-income older people.
