Pilot Scheme on Training for Foreign Domestic Helpers in Elderly Care

Introduction

Foreign domestic helpers are playing a major role in caring for the elderly persons in a number of families. SWD has implemented the Pilot Scheme on Training for Foreign Domestic Helpers (FDHs) in Elderly Care (the Pilot Scheme) since 2018 to strengthen the skills of FDHs in taking care of frail elderly persons, so as to enhance the elderly persons' quality of life in the community and support ageing in place for them.

Target

• Hired FDHs who are / will be taking care of frail elderly persons.
• All FDHs participating in the Pilot Scheme must have employers' recommendations / permission, and the employers concerned are to take out employees' compensation insurance policies as statutorily required.

Objectives

• To equip FDHs with basic knowledge and skills for providing care for frail elderly persons;
• To train FDHs to support elderly persons in adopting healthy lifestyles and reducing their health risk factors; and
• To enhance elderly persons' quality of life in the community through better support from their employed FDHs who are equipped with elderly caregiving skills.

Scope of Service

• The SWD, Department of Health (DH) and District Elderly Community Centres (DECCs) under non-governmental organisations jointly implemented the Pilot Scheme Phase I and Phase II in Eastern, Wan Chai, Kwun Tong, Kowloon City, Sha Tin, Tsuen Wan and Tuen Mun Districts. Phase I and Phase II were completed in September 2021 and September 2023 respectively.
• The SWD and DECCs jointly implement the Pilot Scheme Phase III in October 2023. The Pilot Scheme is extended to all 18 Districts in Hong Kong.
• The training mainly covers 12-hour common topics in elderly care and care skills, and includes 4 suggested electives on caring for elderly persons with dementia and stroke.
• The trainers of the Pilot Scheme include nurses, dieticians, physiotherapists and occupational therapists, etc. The training will be conducted in Cantonese or English (If necessary, interpretation service in Tagalog, Bahasa Indonesian, and Thai could be arranged in classes). The training materials will be available in Chinese, English, Tagalog, Bahasa Indonesian and Thai.
• To encourage FDHs' participation, the DECCs will arrange care services or activities for the needy elderly persons when the training is being conducted.

Content of Training Class

The training class is comprised of 8 core and 4 suggested elective modules. Upon completion of training on core modules, interested FDHs can also enroll the elective modules. The content of training class includes:

Fee Charging

Free of charge.

Class Schedule and Enrollment

Interested employers and FDHs may contact participating DECCs directly for the class schedule and enrollment.

Online Training Videos

Online Training Videos (Please click the icon below for online training videos)

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