Housemaids Taking Care of the Elderly – Six Major Crises (Part 6)
2011-11-18
It is quite common in Hong Kong to rely on domestic helpers to provide care for the elderly at home. Many of these domestic helpers are not only skilled in looking after the elderly, but also show remarkable proficiency in highly technical nursing procedures, such as phlegm suction, peritoneal dialysis, tube feeding and wound care. Without doubt, there are many reasons to recommend the hiring of domestic helpers to care for the elderly at home. But as helper replacement is often inevitable over the course of time, risks may arise if the transition between helpers is not managed and coordinated properly.
To my understanding, domestic helpers in Hong Kong currently enjoy two-year work contracts. Once a helper has worked with an employer for five years, the employer will be required to pay a long service fee should he/she decide not to rehire the helper. For this reason, most employers opt to replace their helper at the end of the fourth year. Each time a replacement occurs, the elderly person may take from one to two months to adjust, and even longer with non-Cantonese-speaking helpers. All this greatly affects the quality of care received.
My suggestion for avoiding the above situation: one month prior to replacing a helper, employers can consult with a professional provider of home care services on how best to manage the transition. These providers can often arrange to have personal care workers provide home coordinating services, which generally involves getting to know the elderly care recipient, building a relationship, and getting to know his/her specific needs. As the new helper takes up employment, the care worker helps enhance the relationship between the elderly person and the helper, as well as instructs the helper on care delivery. In this way, the adjustment period is shortened effectively, and undesirable effects caused to a care recipient due to helper replacement can be kept to a minimal.
