Social Welfare Bureau (IAS) President Wilson Hon Wai said in speech during yesterday’s Spring Festival luncheon for social workers that the “Subsidy Scheme for Rehabilitation Technology Equipment” for local social service organisations will be launched to continuously improve services for the elderly and persons with disabilities this year, aiming to encourage organisations to procure and integrate technological devices.
The annual luncheon for social workers was held at Macau Fisherman’s Wharf in Nape, with over 700 representatives from various social service organisations in attendance.
At the same time, the current subsidy system will be reviewed to support the organisations in enhancing their service efficiency and innovative capabilities, Hon said.
Dual challenges
According to Hon, as Macau faces the dual challenges of a low birth rate and an ageing population, his bureau continues to focus its efforts on policies for the elderly and young.
Regarding the young demographic, Hon noted that the Macau Special Administrative Region (SAR) government has, for the first time, launched a “Childcare Subsidy” to encourage childbirth and provide financial support to families with infants and young children. Efforts are also being made to add emotional education for young children to daycare services, with training programmes being offered to daycare staff, Han said.
Concurrently, the Social Welfare Bureau (IAS), in conjunction with other entities, is jointly implementing its “Full-Cycle Health Protection Programme for Pregnant Women” and “Parent Academy” initiative, striving to build a comprehensive welfare and security system that covers all stages of life and integrates into all areas of daily living.
Hon noted that concerning the government’s policies for senior citizens, based on the active cooperation of over 70 social service organisations across the city, the bureau’s census and registration for the elderly living alone and in dual-elderly households is nearing completion of its data collection phase. By establishing a comprehensive database, the project will lay the foundation for more precise policymaking regarding elderly services in the future, Hon said, adding that the census will also play a crucial role in the government’s efforts to build a “15-minute Community Elderly Service Circle”.
Meanwhile, Hon also said that his bureau has increased the payouts for its “ Community Inclusion and Harmony Programme” “Special Assistance for Three Categories of Disadvantaged Families “ and “Caregiver Allowance”, and also exempted young children from vulnerable families from their monthly childcare centre fees and waived the monthly fixed-line “Macau Peng On Tung* Tele-Assistance” service fee for elderly individuals living alone or in dual-elderly households.
“The Cantonese name of the service means “Macau Safe Link”.
Social Welfare Bureau (IAS) President Wilson Hon Wai addresses yesterday’s annual social services workers’ Spring Festival luncheon at Macau Fisherman’s Wharf in Nape. – Photo: Ida Cheong
