Nearly one-third of carers in the city spent over 17 hours per day tending to individuals with special needs, according to a survey released by an autism support group.
To Dream Charity Foundation interviewed 220 carers, with over 65 percent of whom reported stress levels between 6 and 9 out of 10, while 15 percent experienced the maximum stress level of 10.
The results also indicated that nearly half of the caregivers believe their care recipients lack essential skills for living in the community.
Meanwhile, the Social Welfare Department set up a designated team last April to commence support services for special school leavers and their family members or carers.
However, the chairwoman of the Foundation Macy Chong Po-king noted that some parents reported the team primarily provides recreational or social activities for individuals with special needs, offering few services related to self-care or social skills development.
Chong also pointed out that school leavers in recent years have not benefited from these services, as the program requires contact with special needs individuals six months before they leave school.
The organization urged the government to repurpose Community Living Rooms or convert Parents Resource Centres into resource and support centers to provide skills training for individuals with special needs and their caregivers.
It also proposed enhancing the caregiver allowance into a monthly subsidy of no less than HK$3,000 as a vocational coaching allowance for special educational needs.
Source URL : Survey reveals 30pc HK carers work 17 hours daily | The Standard