Contributions of Volunteers in Long-Term Care in Hong Kong

Abstract

With the efforts of Social Welfare Department, voluntary works in Hong Kong become systemic and popular. Volunteers have been involved in developing local elderly services in many organisations in recent years. Contributions of volunteers related to elderly services in some organisations have been reviewed in this chapter, introducing the scope of services among the volunteers. Training and rewarding systems are also highlighted in order to examine the engagement of volunteers. The case of a local welfare organisation is used to discuss the operational issues encountered in Hong Kong. With a view to relieve the shortage of manpower and demand of the healthcare system, suggestions of further enhancing the ability of volunteers and extending their scope of services in the home of elderly people are proposed. Pertinent issues in sustaining trained volunteers in the voluntary long-term care work are also presented.