(Updated on September 7, 2023)
Are you hiring an elderly caregiver for your loved ones? Elderly care is a significant issue in Hong Kong. The city has one of the fastest aging populations in the world, with a rapidly growing number of elderly residents. According to government statistics, it is estimated that by 2041, approximately one in three people in Hong Kong will be aged 65 or above.The combination of a low birth rate, longer life expectancy, and a large generation reaching retirement age has resulted in an increasing demand for caregivers and elderly care service provider.
Domestic helpers, however, can play a vital role in taking good care of elderly people by providing nursing assistance, support, and companionship, especially when they are trained.
How can maids help as the elderly caregivers?
Here are several ways in which domestic helpers can take good care of elderly individuals:
- Personal care: Domestic helpers can assist with activities of daily live such as bathing, grooming, dressing, and toileting. They can ensure the senior person’s personal hygiene is maintained and help them with mobility and transferring if necessary.
- Medication management: Domestic helpers can help the elderly individual with their medication regimen. This includes reminding them to take their medications on time, organizing pillboxes, and ensuring prescriptions are refilled as needed. However, it’s important to note that administering medication typically requires specific nursing training and may be subject to local regulations.
- Meal preparation and feeding: Domestic helpers can plan and prepare nutritious meals for the elderly person based on their dietary needs and preferences. They can also assist with feeding if the senior requires help due to physical or cognitive limitations.
- Light housekeeping: Domestic helpers can perform light housekeeping tasks such as cleaning, laundry, and tidying up the living space. Maintaining a clean and organized environment is important for the well-being and the health of the elderly person.
- Companionship: Loneliness and social isolation can be common among the elderly, so domestic helpers can provide companionship and engage in activities with them. They can spend time together in conversations, play games, accompany them on walks, or help them pursue hobbies and interests in their daily live.
- Transportation and errands: Domestic helpers can assist with transportation needs, such as driving the elderly person to medical appointments, social outings, or shopping trips. They can also help with running errands like grocery shopping or picking up prescriptions.
- Monitoring health and safety: Domestic helpers can keep an eye on the elderly person’s well-being and report any changes in their physical or mental health to family members or healthcare professionals. They can also ensure the home is safe by removing potential hazards and taking necessary precautions.
- Communication and coordination: Domestic helpers can act as a liaison between the elderly person and their family members, relaying information and facilitating communication. They can help schedule appointments, coordinate care services, and assist with managing paperwork or bills if required.
It’s worth mentioning that the specific job tasks and responsibilities of domestic helpers may vary based on cultural norms, local regulations, and the individual needs of the elderly person. It’s essential to establish clear expectations and good communication channels to ensure proper care and support for the elderly individual.
How To Select A Maid For The Elderly Family Member?
When selecting a domestic helper to take care of your elderly family member, it’s important to consider several factors to find the best match for the elderly person. Here are some steps that will help you in the hiring process:
- Assess the specific care needs: State the specific care requirements of the elderly person. Consider their medical conditions, mobility limitations, cognitive abilities, and any specialized care they may need. This assessment will help you determine the level of expertise and caregiving experience required from a domestic helper.
- Determine the scope of job responsibilities: Decide on the tasks and responsibilities you expect the domestic helper to handle. This can include personal care, medication management, meal preparation, housekeeping, companionship, and transportation. Clarify these job expectations in advance to find a maid who can meet them.
- Seek recommendations and referrals: Ask for recommendations from friends, family, or healthcare professionals who may have experience in hiring domestic helpers for elderly care. Referrals from trusted sources will provide valuable insights and help you learn more about the maid candidates’ background and find a reliable maid.
- Engage a reputable maid agency: Consider engaging a reputable maid agency. These maid agencies will assist in screening and shortlisting domestic helper candidates based on your requirements, conducting background check, and verifying training qualifications and references. Make sure to choose an agency with a good track record and positive reviews.
- Interview maid candidates: Conduct thorough interviews with potential maids to assess their skills, elderly caregiving experience, and compatibility. Ask questions about their previous caregiving experience, their approach to handling challenging situations, and their understanding of elderly care. Evaluate their communication skills, patience, and empathy, as these qualities are crucial for elderly caregiving.
- Check references and credentials: Request reference from the previous employer and contact them to learn about the maid’s work performance. Verify the maid’s credentials, certifications, and training related to elderly care, if applicable.
- Assess cultural fit and language proficiency: Consider the cultural background and language skills of the domestic helper. If the elderly person has specific cultural or language preferences, ensure the maid can effectively communicate and learn and understand their needs.
- Discuss terms and conditions: Clearly discuss and document the terms and conditions of employment, including working hours, the pay, benefits, live-in condition, and any specific contractual agreements. Ensure both employer and employee have a clear understanding of job expectations and responsibilities.
- Regular communication and supervision: Maintain regular communication with the domestic helper will help address any concerns or provide feedback. Regularly assess the quality of care they provide and ensure the elderly person’s well-being and satisfaction.
Remember to comply with local regulations and employment laws regarding the hiring of domestic helpers, including obtaining the necessary permit or work visa. It’s essential to prioritize the safety, well-being, and comfort of the elderly person when hiring a domestic helper.
How To Find A Domestic Helper For Elderly Care?
HelperChoice online platform provides domestic helpers matching service for employers in Hong Kong to find the best maid. The employer can create an account for free on HelperChoice platform and publish a job offer to recruit domestic helpers with specific job requirements. For example, if the employer is going to hire a maid for taking care of elderly people, the job ad should state that elderly care experience and/or first-aid training certificate is required. If the employer is looking for a domestic helper with patience and caring character, they should state it in the job ad as well. The employer can review domestic helper profiles by their years of work experience, age, nationality, language, cooking skill, availability to start the work, the status of the previous employment contract and so forth. For the job interview, employer can spend some time preparing questions for the maid candidate, which will help you learn more about maid’s experience as an elderly caregiver. If necessary, employer can offer professional caregiving or nursing training for the maid.
See also: How To Find A Maid On HelperChoice Platform?
Affordable Elderly Care Training Course In Hong Kong
Do you want to upskill your helper in elderly care? You may consider elderly care training course organised by Social Welfare Department for your helper, which will cover the following aspects:
- Assisting elderly persons with feeding and taking medicines
- Fall prevention
- First aid
- Food hygiene and healthy meal arrangements for elderly persons
- Mental health in elderly persons and detection of warning signs
- Bathing and oral care for elderly persons
- Vital signs observation and skills in measuring blood pressure, body temperature and blood sugar
- Assisting elderly persons with mild mobility impairment in transferring positions
Course Fee: HK$200/helper
Eligible participant:
- Hired FDHs who are / will be taking care of frail elderly persons
- Must have employers’ recommendations / permission
- FDHs with employees’ compensation insurance covered
Sign up here
The Process Of Hiring A Maid
If the employer decides to hire a Filipino domestic worker, HelperChoice team can process the work permit and visa application at the Philippine Consulate on behalf of the employer. If the employer is already a Premium Member of HelperChoice and found the maid on the platform, they can enjoy a 10% off on visa processing service. Please click here for the details of the visa processing service for Filipino workers.
See Also: HelperChoice Helper Matching Platform Service Fee
About HelperChoice
HelperChoice is an ethical maid agency based in Hong Kong. Since 2012, it has served more than 75,000 employers. It is licensed by the Hong Kong Labour Department. On HelperChoice platform, domestic workers will not be charged for any placement fee or “agency fee” while employers can enjoy the best price for online direct hiring and domestic helper matching service.