Highlights of the Year 2020-21

Residential Care Services for the Elderly

Pilot Scheme on Residential Care Service Voucher for the Elderly
SWD continued to implement the Pilot Scheme on Residential Care Service Voucher for the Elderly which was launched in March 2017. Adopting the “money-following-the-user” principle, the Pilot Scheme provided an additional choice for elderly persons in need of residential care services. It has been extended for 3 years from March 2020 to March 2023.

Pilot Scheme on Multi-disciplinary Outreaching Support Teams for the Elderly
SWD launched a four-year Pilot Scheme on Multi-disciplinary Outreaching Support Teams for the Elderly (MOSTE) in mid-February 2019. Under MOSTE, district-based professional teams, comprising social workers, physiotherapists, occupational therapists and speech therapists, were set up to provide free outreach services for the residents in private Residential Care Homes for the Elderly (RCHEs), so as to address their social and rehabilitation needs. Apart from serving the residents in private RCHEs, MOSTE also provided speech therapy service for residents of contract homes (including DCUs attached to contract homes) and those of self-financing RCHEs/nursing homes with swallowing difficulties or speech impairment.

Enhanced Bought Place Scheme
SWD has commenced the purchase of 5 000 EA1 places under the Enhanced Bought Place Scheme in 2019- 20 to increase the supply of subsidised residential care places for the elderly and enhance the overall service quality of private RCHEs.

Provision of Soft Meals to Subsidised Elderly Service Users with Swallowing Difficulties
SWD has, since October 2020, provided additional resources to subsidised RCHEs and community care service units for the elderly (including EHCCS, IHCS and DEs/DCUs) for providing soft meals to elderly persons with swallowing difficulties, with a view to enhancing their quality of life. Recognised service providers under the Pilot Scheme on Community Care Service Voucher for the Elderly may also provide soft meals to needy elderly persons based on the principle of “money-following-the-user”.