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Club-funded survey reveals that community is acceptable place for end-of-life care

11/01/2016

For patients facing terminal illnesses, end-of-life care (EoLC) provides both medical support and the emotional and psychological care they need to improve their quality of life during the final stages of their life. Last year, The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust donated HK$131 million to pioneer a three-year Jockey Club End-of-Life Community Care Project (JCECC), bringing together The University of Hong Kong (HKU) and The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK), five NGOs and the public and private healthcare sectors in a cross-sector collaboration. Under this project, various community-based EoLC services are being piloted, either in elderly homes or in patients’ own homes, aimed both at patients and their families. Staff training and public education programmes are also being organised. 

Part of the initiative involves commissioning the Social Sciences Research Centre of HKU to conduct a community-wide survey on EoLC in Hong Kong, for the purpose of understanding the public’s knowledge, attitude and preferences with regard to community EoLC.

The findings of this survey were announced today (1 November) by JCECC Project Director and HKU’s Department of Social Work and Social Administration Professor Cecilia Chan and Associate Professor Dr Amy Chow, joined by the Club’s Executive Director, Charities and Community, Leong Cheung.

The Club has been proactively responding to the challenges arising from the city’s ageing population trend. Building an age-friendly Hong Kong is one of three areas of strategic focus for the Club’s community contributions. “The Club hopes to enhance public understanding of community EoLC. In this way our citizens can make informed choices about care options and face the end of their life calmly and with dignity,” Mr Cheung explained.

A random sampling telephone survey was conducted from January to March, covering 1,600 Hong Kong residents aged 18 or above. The study found that over 52% of participants felt comfortable talking about death while fewer than 10% felt uncomfortable, revealing that the public are generally prepared to discuss death and EoLC-related issues.

Some 84% of respondents believed that when facing the final journey of their life, they should be the one making their own EoLC decisions, rather than doctors, family members or others. Over 70% said they would have discussions with their families before making an EoLC decision and choosing their preferred place of death.

Regarding the place for receiving EoLC, most felt the community was an acceptable choice outside hospitals, with people opting to receive EoLC in social service agencies (72%), elderly/ nursing homes (72%) and homes (54%), while 23% said they hoped to die at home. 

When asked what they felt to be important components of EoLC, most of the respondents mentioned counselling/ psychological support and spiritual care. This shows that, to patients with terminal illnesses and their families, psychological care is seen as important in addition to medical care.

Ms Wong lives with her 89-year-old father who suffers from heart failure and early stage dementia, and has decided to receive EoLC at home. She bears the responsibility for taking care of her father and feels lonely sometimes. But things have improved since she began participating in the JCECC project four months ago. The ‘Cheering Practitioner’ volunteers trained by JCECC Project partner St James’ Settlement have been conducting home visits to play chess with her father every week.

“I quit my job a few years ago to take care of my father. With the help of the volunteers I have the opportunity to go out and take a break, which really helps relieve pressure on me,” Ms Wong said. “My father loves playing chess with the volunteers. Every time he is focused and happy, and now we have more topics to talk about.”

The JCECC is expected to benefit over 1,400 terminally-ill patients over the next three years. For more details, please visit: http://www.JCECC.hk/.

Attachment:
Attachment 1:  Background information of the Jockey Club End-of-Life Community Care Project

The Hong Kong Jockey Club
The Hong Kong Jockey Club is a not-for-profit enterprise dedicated to community betterment. Through its integrated business model of world-class racing, responsible sports wagering and lottery, and charity and community contribution, the Club generates substantial economic and social value and assists the Government in combatting illegal gambling. In 2015/16 the Club donated a record HK$3.9 billion to charity and paid a record HK$20.9 billion in tax. It is Hong Kong’s largest single tax payer and one of the world’s largest charity donors. Committed to global excellence and giving back to society, the Club is always “riding high together for a better future” with the people of Hong Kong.

The Cluba£á?s Executive Director, Charities and Community, Leong Cheung says the Club hopes to enhance public understanding of community EoLC, so that citizens can make informed choices about care options and face the end of their life calmly and with dignity.
The Cluba£á?s Executive Director, Charities and Community, Leong Cheung says the Club hopes to enhance public understanding of community EoLC, so that citizens can make informed choices about care options and face the end of their life calmly and with dignity.

The Cluba£á?s Executive Director, Charities and Community, Leong Cheung (3rd left); JCECC Project Director and HKUa£á?s Department of Social Work and Social Administration Professor Cecilia Chan (3rd right) and Associate Professor Dr Amy Chow (2nd left); and the St Jamesa£á? Settlement Continuing Care Manager Alvina Chau (1st right), a£á?Cheering Practitionersa£á? volunteer Simon (1st left) and caregiver Ms Wong (2nd right).
The Cluba£á?s Executive Director, Charities and Community, Leong Cheung (3rd left); JCECC Project Director and HKUa£á?s Department of Social Work and Social Administration Professor Cecilia Chan (3rd right) and Associate Professor Dr Amy Chow (2nd left); and the St Jamesa£á? Settlement Continuing Care Manager Alvina Chau (1st right), a£á?Cheering Practitionersa£á? volunteer Simon (1st left) and caregiver Ms Wong (2nd right).

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