Annual Highlights

Highlights of the Year 2023-24

Legislative Amendments to Ordinances for Residential Care Homes

After deliberation and discussions across nine meetings of the Bills Committee of the Legislative Council, the Residential Care Homes Legislation (Miscellaneous Amendments) Bill 2022 was passed at its Third Reading on 7 June 2023. The Residential Care Homes Legislation (Miscellaneous Amendments) Ordinance 2023 was gazetted on 16 June 2023, with the aim to enhance the service quality of residential care homes for the elderly (RCHEs) and residential care homes for persons with disabilities (RCHDs).

Training Subsidy Scheme for Staff of Residential Care Homes

Continued to implement the Scheme to provide full subsidies for home managers, health workers and care workers of all RCHEs and RCHDs in the territory to enrol in training courses recognised under the Qualifications Framework. A training allowance is also provided for the residential care homes (RCHs) to maintain operations through proper staff deployment when health workers and care workers attend courses. Additionally, on-site training support and assessment are provided for trainees. As at the end of March 2024, around 85% of RCHs have joined the Scheme.

Accreditation Subsidy Scheme for Private Residential Care Homes for The Elderly

The Scheme provided full subsidies for private RCHEs joining SWD’s approved accreditation schemes recognised under the Hong Kong Accreditation Service’s Accredited Certification Body of Certification of Residential Care Homes (Elderly Persons) Service Providers’ Management System. It aimed to encourage private RCHEs to continuously improve their service quality through independent accreditation schemes. Upon the expiry of this time-limited Scheme on 31 March 2024, around 56% of private RCHEs registered to join the Scheme.

Jockey Club Facilities Enhancement Scheme for Pandemic Preparedness at Residential Care Homes - Ventilation Improvement Works

With funding support from the Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust, private/self-financing RCHDs/RCHEs, contract homes operated by private organisations and self-financing nursing homes registered under the Department of Health were provided with one-off subsidies to carry out ventilation improvement works based on the recommendations provided by SWD, Electrical and Mechanical Services Department, and Buildings Department following joint on-site assessments of the RCHs. As at the end of March 2024, over 500 eligible RCHs have submitted applications for the scheme.