There are more than 195,000 people living on outlying islands in Hong Kong, with over 15 per cent of them above the age of 65.
The elderly make up at least 40 per cent of the 20,000 residents on hilly outlying Hong Kong island Cheung Chau. HONG KONG : Hilly Cheung Chau, one of Hong Kong ’s outlying islands, makes for a scenic getaway from a bustling urban life.The elderly make up at least 40 per cent of the 20,000 residents on the island. With their homes built on slopes, journeys to and fro can be quite a trek."Even if they’re 80 or 90 years old, they still must walk home.
As of 2023, over 15 per cent were above the age of 65, up from 14 per cent in the previous year. Their numbers are set to rise.MEDICAL SERVICES FOR RESIDENTSSt John’s Hospital on the island, which is a 40-minute ferry ride from the city centre, provides emergency services. Residents with mobility issues can also tap on medication delivery and telehealth services.
“If there's no immediate life-threatening condition, we will land on a helipad and do ground transfer. But if patients need immediate care, we will land on the rooftop of one of the urban hospitals in Hong Kong,” he said. Aside from the air crewmen, who are medically trained, the GFS also has 67 healthcare volunteers on its roster. These volunteers, also known as auxiliary members, are only available on weekends."More than two-thirds of our workload is medical transfer for our patients who are over 60 years old,” he said, adding that common cases involve heart issues and falls.
Dr So highlighted one recent case of an 89-year-old woman with a history of heart disease and kidney failure who had chest discomfort and low blood pressure and needed to be transferred by GFS."She was in distress and got very sweaty. We gave her oxygen throughout the flight, and medication after her blood pressure crashed. Thankfully, we got her to hospital in time, and she was placed on ventilator support immediately," he said.
“We organise different kinds of activities, including chair dancing, stretching, calligraphy and tea appreciation,” said project manager Derek Tam. "These may seem like minor repairs or adjustments, but they make a significant improvement in the lives of the elderly."Such community-based support forms an integral part of Hong Kong’s shift to primary healthcare.
Madam Lee Loi Hei,90, a Peng Chau resident, spends most of her day at daycare centre at Silvermorph Charity, which serves around 30 residents on the island.
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