RESPITE SERVICE FOR THE ELDERLY IN HONG-KONG - EVALUATION OF A PILOT PROJECT

A pilot project on respite service for the elderly was established in 1989 in Hong Kong. Both the idea of respite service and its practice m odel were borrowed from the western societies; it was not clear how we ll the Chinese elderly people and their families would accept this new service. An evaluative study was thus designed to find out the effect iveness of the pilot project. Data were collected from two sources: th e elderly clients who have received respite service and their principa l carers. The findings indicated that the average utilization rate of the service was low and a seasonal fluctuation existed with much highe r rates during the summer months. Ninety-three percent of the principa l carers were satisfied with the service and 76% of them would conside r re-using the service. Nearly half of the carers previously consideri ng institutions changed their minds. Attitudes towards caring relation ship after using the service, of both the elderly clients and their pr incipal carers, however, showed controversial results. Gerontological social work practice implications are discussed.