Hong Kong authorities plan to review the age threshold for elderly care services following the death of a 78-year-old woman and the attempted suicide of her 70-year-old husband. Secretary for Labour and Welfare Chris Sun Yuk-han announced the review on Saturday.
A 70-year-old man was found hanging in his flat in Lai King Estate, Kwun Tong, on Friday by his daughter. His 78-year-old wife was found unconscious in the bedroom with her head covered by a quilt. Both were taken to Princess Margaret Hospital in Kwai Chung, where she was declared dead and he remained in critical condition. The case has been classified as attempted suicide.
Secretary for Labour and Welfare Chris Sun Yuk-han said the couple had not received targeted welfare visits because they were both under 80. Social workers usually identify elderly needy aged 80 or above from the Housing Authority’s household register.
“It was indeed a tragedy. But they had not been covered for welfare visits by social workers, who usually identify the elderly needy aged 80 or above in the Housing Authority’s household register,” Sun told a radio programme. He added that colleagues would follow up the case and examine whether to lower the age threshold using big data.
