The provision of comprehensive and compassionate end-of-life care for seriously ill patients is vital if they are to spend their final days in relative comfort. But the provision of palliative care is underdeveloped around the world, including in Hong Kong. The service gap for those who are physically or intellectually disabled is especially wide. A new Hong Kong Jockey Club project, to provide end-of-life support for older people with disabilities, is much needed and most welcome.
The HK$290 million Unison project is expected to serve more than 3,000 disabled people and 4,000 carers over the next five years. Specially trained frontline workers from 10 non-governmental organisations will help patients and families better prepare for death.
Advance care planning and life and death education will be among the services provided. One key aim is to enable terminally ill patients to communicate their wishes clearly. This can provide them with peace of mind and those around them with clarity at the end of their life. It will ease the stress on both the patients and their carers.
Those wishing to prepare advance medical directives, to reject certain life-sustaining treatments if they are dying, will be given assistance. Such documents have been given legal status under legislative amendments which take effect next year.
The project will build on a broader Jockey Club end-of-life community project which has been providing such services to older people since 2016. Talking about death and preparing for it has traditionally been a taboo subject in Hong Kong. This is beginning to change. But there is a need for much greater awareness and support. More education, training and care services are needed.
Around 90 per cent of Hong Kong people die in hospital, placing a heavy burden on public health services. Most would prefer to spend their last days in familiar surroundings. More must, therefore, be done to ensure care homes provide appropriate end-of-life support.
