Carers’ respite

Looking after my chronically-ill father is exhausting my energy. Worse still, I need to take care of my husband and children. Is there any service to assist full-time carers like me for temporary respite?  

Carers work round the clock, they are swamped with their caring duties and are easily prone to neglecting their personal needs and problems. Once they feel overwhelmed and frustrated, tragedy may happen. They should seek help proactively if they encounter any difficulties.


At present, welfare units subsidized by the Social Welfare Department provide the following support services to carers including:

  • Carers’ Support Service: involves nursing skills training, support groups, hotline service, counselling and referral services, etc. 
  • Residential Respite Service for the Elderly (day care and residential respite service): provides temporary day care and temporary residential respite service to offer immediate relief for carers whenever needed.
  • Integrated Home Care Services (Ordinary Cases) : provides home-based community support services to the elderly like personal care, household cleaning, meal and laundry services. 
  • Long-term Care Service: provided by Social Welfare Department to elderly with proven long-term care needs as assessed by the Department under the Standardised Care Need Registration, Assessment and Arrangement Mechanism. Enquire from the social welfare units near your home on the following applications:
    1. Community Care Service (such as Integrated Home Care Service (Frail Cases), Enhanced Home and Community Care Service/Day Care Centre/Unit for the Elderly;
    2. Residential Care Services (including Care and Attention Home and Nursing Home, etc) Suggest carers’ family members, friends, and neighbours make good use of social resources, providing them more respite opportunities. 


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