1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:07,440 Speaker 1: this is a C. N. A podcast. Picture the scene, 2 00:00:07,450 --> 00:00:10,539 Speaker 1: a daycare center for the elderly in Hong kong with 3 00:00:10,539 --> 00:00:14,200 Speaker 1: staff tending to their charges. A man in his seventies 4 00:00:14,210 --> 00:00:17,580 Speaker 1: ambles along with his cane, he's come to pick up 5 00:00:17,579 --> 00:00:18,480 Speaker 1: his wife, 6 00:00:18,989 --> 00:00:23,220 Speaker 1: she suffers from dementia really speaks and his wheelchair bound, 7 00:00:23,480 --> 00:00:27,190 Speaker 1: she needs help with everything from eating to going to 8 00:00:27,190 --> 00:00:27,900 Speaker 1: the bathroom. 9 00:00:28,970 --> 00:00:31,780 Speaker 1: She spends about seven hours a day at the center. 10 00:00:32,370 --> 00:00:36,290 Speaker 1: The other 17 hours she relies solely on her husband 11 00:00:37,460 --> 00:00:39,060 Speaker 1: to get her home. He has to lay out a 12 00:00:39,060 --> 00:00:41,800 Speaker 1: ramp to push the wheelchair up the final flight of 13 00:00:41,800 --> 00:00:44,450 Speaker 1: stairs and into their modest apartment. 14 00:00:46,180 --> 00:00:48,540 Speaker 1: You'd be right to think that the physical burden this 15 00:00:48,540 --> 00:00:49,910 Speaker 1: places on him is high, 16 00:00:50,520 --> 00:00:54,520 Speaker 1: but there's more as couples age, they not only struggle 17 00:00:54,520 --> 00:00:57,970 Speaker 1: with physical care but the burden on their mental health 18 00:00:57,980 --> 00:01:03,640 Speaker 1: increases too. Especially for the primary caregiver. What more during 19 00:01:03,640 --> 00:01:04,500 Speaker 1: a pandemic. 20 00:01:13,930 --> 00:01:17,290 Speaker 1: I'm steve lie. And on this episode of CNN correspondent 21 00:01:17,380 --> 00:01:19,890 Speaker 1: you'll hear a story that is becoming more and more 22 00:01:19,890 --> 00:01:24,940 Speaker 1: recognizable across ASia as demographics increasingly skew older. 23 00:01:35,540 --> 00:01:39,290 Speaker 1: But back to our doting husband, his name is Sam win, 24 00:01:39,530 --> 00:01:42,720 Speaker 1: he is 73 and he has serious health concerns of 25 00:01:42,720 --> 00:01:46,770 Speaker 1: his own so serious. They've had a negative impact on 26 00:01:46,770 --> 00:01:47,950 Speaker 1: his mental health. 27 00:01:48,580 --> 00:01:52,340 Speaker 1: I was diagnosed with late stage prostate cancer just as 28 00:01:52,340 --> 00:01:56,490 Speaker 1: my wife's situation turned serious, I was so worried that 29 00:01:56,490 --> 00:01:59,080 Speaker 1: I couldn't take care of her anymore. So I thought 30 00:01:59,080 --> 00:02:02,560 Speaker 1: of committing suicide with her. Later, I realized that I 31 00:02:02,560 --> 00:02:06,430 Speaker 1: couldn't decide for her because she's unable to express herself, 32 00:02:08,450 --> 00:02:11,690 Speaker 1: wow that really puts for better or for worse in 33 00:02:11,690 --> 00:02:13,910 Speaker 1: sickness and in health into perspective doesn't it? 34 00:02:14,880 --> 00:02:17,600 Speaker 1: And for more perspective on Mr Putin and mental health 35 00:02:17,600 --> 00:02:20,179 Speaker 1: among the elderly in Hong kong. I'm joined by my 36 00:02:20,180 --> 00:02:22,970 Speaker 1: colleague Debra Wong who worked on the story with her team. 37 00:02:23,220 --> 00:02:24,220 Speaker 1: Good to speak to you, Deborah, 38 00:02:24,380 --> 00:02:25,510 Speaker 2: good to see you steve 39 00:02:25,850 --> 00:02:28,500 Speaker 1: Yeah, there's a lot to unpack with this story but 40 00:02:28,500 --> 00:02:30,459 Speaker 1: I want to start with what sat me back in 41 00:02:30,460 --> 00:02:33,620 Speaker 1: my chair as I heard it. Mr pun contemplating ending 42 00:02:33,620 --> 00:02:35,950 Speaker 1: not just his life but his wife's too 43 00:02:36,190 --> 00:02:38,540 Speaker 1: tell us more about this couple in their situation. 44 00:02:38,550 --> 00:02:41,560 Speaker 2: So the couple, they've been married for about 50 years 45 00:02:41,560 --> 00:02:44,940 Speaker 2: but the last 10 years have been pretty difficult. Mrs 46 00:02:44,940 --> 00:02:48,110 Speaker 2: poon has dementia and Mr poon discovered five years ago 47 00:02:48,110 --> 00:02:50,660 Speaker 2: that he has prostate cancer in the late stage so 48 00:02:50,660 --> 00:02:52,940 Speaker 2: he doesn't quite know how long he has left to 49 00:02:52,940 --> 00:02:56,350 Speaker 2: live and since he is the sole caregiver, he's worried 50 00:02:56,350 --> 00:02:58,770 Speaker 2: that nobody knows how to take care of her like 51 00:02:58,770 --> 00:03:01,670 Speaker 2: he does and he kept this secret really close to 52 00:03:01,669 --> 00:03:04,400 Speaker 2: his chest but decided against going through the plan of 53 00:03:04,400 --> 00:03:05,710 Speaker 2: taking their lives 54 00:03:05,723 --> 00:03:08,353 Speaker 2: because Mrs poon is at the stage where she can't 55 00:03:08,363 --> 00:03:11,813 Speaker 2: express herself her wishes or her desire. So Mr Putin 56 00:03:11,813 --> 00:03:14,273 Speaker 2: said and he acknowledged that it was unfair for him 57 00:03:14,273 --> 00:03:17,683 Speaker 2: to decide on her behalf, but don't let this undermine 58 00:03:17,693 --> 00:03:20,503 Speaker 2: his dedication to her because the couple they live in 59 00:03:20,502 --> 00:03:23,493 Speaker 2: quiet song now that's a residential estate in cologne and 60 00:03:23,502 --> 00:03:26,412 Speaker 2: it's a pretty old residential estate. So the buildings were 61 00:03:26,413 --> 00:03:30,803 Speaker 2: seeing it completely devoid of any sort of universal design. 62 00:03:30,803 --> 00:03:33,203 Speaker 2: What this means is that there are little flight of 63 00:03:33,203 --> 00:03:35,243 Speaker 2: stats leading to houses 64 00:03:35,256 --> 00:03:38,296 Speaker 2: and for people who are wheelchair bound it can get 65 00:03:38,296 --> 00:03:41,156 Speaker 2: a little inaccessible. So what Mr poon did is to 66 00:03:41,156 --> 00:03:43,926 Speaker 2: build this wooden ramp from scratch and it took a 67 00:03:43,926 --> 00:03:46,696 Speaker 2: couple of trial and error. Eventually he decided to lay 68 00:03:46,696 --> 00:03:50,856 Speaker 2: down some rubber strips and it was supportive enough to 69 00:03:50,856 --> 00:03:53,476 Speaker 2: wield his wife in and out of the house. And 70 00:03:53,476 --> 00:03:56,926 Speaker 2: the fact that he did that it really showed how 71 00:03:56,926 --> 00:03:58,986 Speaker 2: committed he is to caring for her 72 00:03:58,996 --> 00:04:01,726 Speaker 1: and quite a physical effort it must take for him 73 00:04:01,736 --> 00:04:03,676 Speaker 1: to get her to and from the care center as 74 00:04:03,676 --> 00:04:04,776 Speaker 1: well and took after her 75 00:04:05,060 --> 00:04:07,190 Speaker 1: for so many hours of the day. He is her 76 00:04:07,190 --> 00:04:08,520 Speaker 1: primary caregiver, is that right? 77 00:04:08,530 --> 00:04:09,730 Speaker 2: Yes. Absolutely. 78 00:04:09,770 --> 00:04:11,810 Speaker 1: And it must be quite exhausting that. Is there no 79 00:04:11,810 --> 00:04:13,020 Speaker 1: one else that can help? 80 00:04:13,030 --> 00:04:16,820 Speaker 2: Well Mr Putin actually has three Children. But the thing 81 00:04:16,820 --> 00:04:19,839 Speaker 2: is he told us that taking care of her is 82 00:04:19,839 --> 00:04:22,909 Speaker 2: his responsibility. So he doesn't want to burden his Children. 83 00:04:22,910 --> 00:04:26,080 Speaker 2: His Children are working, they have families of their own. 84 00:04:26,089 --> 00:04:29,580 Speaker 2: So he sees this as his own responsibility. 85 00:04:29,589 --> 00:04:32,219 Speaker 1: Did he talk about his own mental health and how 86 00:04:32,220 --> 00:04:33,650 Speaker 1: he's coping with all of this. 87 00:04:33,880 --> 00:04:37,200 Speaker 1: It's a lot to look after someone in the situation 88 00:04:37,200 --> 00:04:39,350 Speaker 1: that his wife is in but then to also be 89 00:04:39,350 --> 00:04:40,780 Speaker 1: contending with his own issues. 90 00:04:40,790 --> 00:04:43,130 Speaker 2: Yeah, for sure. So we approach this interview with the 91 00:04:43,130 --> 00:04:46,310 Speaker 2: intention of finding out the kind of stresses that caregivers 92 00:04:46,310 --> 00:04:48,589 Speaker 2: go through and and we found out that a huge 93 00:04:48,589 --> 00:04:50,919 Speaker 2: part of the stresses because they simply do not have 94 00:04:50,920 --> 00:04:54,580 Speaker 2: time for themselves. Time to chill, time to just breathe 95 00:04:54,589 --> 00:04:57,370 Speaker 2: time to walk around. So for instance, Mr Putin said 96 00:04:57,370 --> 00:05:00,450 Speaker 2: that before his wife's condition worsened, he was spending about 97 00:05:00,460 --> 00:05:01,950 Speaker 2: 80 hours a week caring for 98 00:05:01,960 --> 00:05:06,010 Speaker 2: for her. This includes bathing her, feeding her, making sure 99 00:05:06,010 --> 00:05:10,580 Speaker 2: that she's okay and this is physically exhausting also because 100 00:05:10,589 --> 00:05:14,359 Speaker 2: remember he has prostate cancer, walking is a little bit 101 00:05:14,360 --> 00:05:17,020 Speaker 2: difficult for him. He walks around with a walking stick 102 00:05:17,029 --> 00:05:20,630 Speaker 2: and as a caregiver lifting a loved one from the 103 00:05:20,630 --> 00:05:24,300 Speaker 2: wheelchair to the bit, transferring her from one place to 104 00:05:24,300 --> 00:05:27,490 Speaker 2: the other. It takes a huge amount of effort because 105 00:05:27,500 --> 00:05:30,040 Speaker 2: the entire body weight of that person is on you 106 00:05:30,220 --> 00:05:33,800 Speaker 2: And these patients more often than not they are for 107 00:05:33,800 --> 00:05:37,469 Speaker 2: risk patients. So you need to be very sturdy on 108 00:05:37,470 --> 00:05:40,839 Speaker 2: your own two ft and this I think takes a 109 00:05:40,839 --> 00:05:44,810 Speaker 2: huge amount of mental pressure as well as physical pressure. 110 00:05:44,820 --> 00:05:47,890 Speaker 2: So definitely that strain is there. 111 00:05:47,900 --> 00:05:50,680 Speaker 1: Next on Sienna, you'll hear how Mr Putin and his 112 00:05:50,680 --> 00:05:53,719 Speaker 1: wife story is an increasingly common one in Hong kong 113 00:05:53,730 --> 00:05:57,070 Speaker 1: as its population ages and how it's old age, residential 114 00:05:57,070 --> 00:05:58,740 Speaker 1: homes are struggling to cope. 115 00:06:03,430 --> 00:06:03,850 Speaker 1: Mhm 116 00:06:06,250 --> 00:06:09,420 Speaker 1: Hi, I'm Stephen and I host the new season of 117 00:06:09,420 --> 00:06:12,700 Speaker 1: our podcast Heart of the matter, join me in getting 118 00:06:12,700 --> 00:06:15,100 Speaker 1: right to the heart of the headlines as we speak 119 00:06:15,100 --> 00:06:18,410 Speaker 1: with experts and newsmakers to delve deep into the most 120 00:06:18,410 --> 00:06:22,310 Speaker 1: talked about news developments, look out for our episodes wherever 121 00:06:22,320 --> 00:06:23,550 Speaker 1: you get your podcasts. 122 00:06:31,760 --> 00:06:39,580 Speaker 2: Some of our services have already reached maximum capacity. There's 123 00:06:39,580 --> 00:06:41,850 Speaker 2: a waiting list for our service and we have to 124 00:06:41,850 --> 00:06:46,440 Speaker 2: hire more staff, but as you know, we are encountering 125 00:06:46,440 --> 00:06:53,080 Speaker 2: some difficulties. The first thing is immigration, we are doing 126 00:06:53,080 --> 00:06:56,860 Speaker 2: many outreach programs to get young people to experience working 127 00:06:56,860 --> 00:07:01,130 Speaker 2: in social welfare services. 128 00:07:03,040 --> 00:07:06,850 Speaker 1: That's Maggie Sue, she's in charge of integrated elderly services 129 00:07:06,850 --> 00:07:10,670 Speaker 1: at Baptist Social Service and she's touched on a key 130 00:07:10,670 --> 00:07:14,450 Speaker 1: challenge that is only going to grow as populations age 131 00:07:14,900 --> 00:07:18,320 Speaker 1: in Singapore. For example, its annual population report released this 132 00:07:18,320 --> 00:07:22,090 Speaker 1: week projects that by 2030, around one in four citizens 133 00:07:22,090 --> 00:07:25,170 Speaker 1: will be aged 65 and above. And as we are 134 00:07:25,170 --> 00:07:28,560 Speaker 1: increasingly becoming aware their mental health as well as their 135 00:07:28,560 --> 00:07:31,730 Speaker 1: physical health will need to be considered and cared for. 136 00:07:32,760 --> 00:07:34,940 Speaker 1: You're back with me Steve Lyon, Debra Wong and Debra. 137 00:07:34,940 --> 00:07:37,240 Speaker 1: I want to expand our discussion to talk more about 138 00:07:37,250 --> 00:07:41,120 Speaker 1: mental health. One indicator that paints a bleak picture of 139 00:07:41,130 --> 00:07:44,510 Speaker 1: Hong Kong senior citizens is that its elderly suicide rate 140 00:07:44,520 --> 00:07:47,800 Speaker 1: hit a record high last year of 446. Now that 141 00:07:47,800 --> 00:07:52,680 Speaker 1: figure alone accounts for 44% of the city's overall suicide cases, 142 00:07:53,070 --> 00:07:55,690 Speaker 1: those are startling numbers. But would I be right to 143 00:07:55,690 --> 00:07:58,560 Speaker 1: say that the pandemic has been a contributing factor here? 144 00:07:58,960 --> 00:08:01,080 Speaker 2: Well, I mean, it is a huge factor. So let's 145 00:08:01,080 --> 00:08:03,470 Speaker 2: break down the figures a little bit ngos like the 146 00:08:03,470 --> 00:08:06,980 Speaker 2: suicide prevention services, they run a 24 hour hotline. And 147 00:08:06,980 --> 00:08:09,620 Speaker 2: just the first half of this year alone attract nearly 148 00:08:09,620 --> 00:08:13,200 Speaker 2: 70,000 calls for help. And when we look at that 149 00:08:13,200 --> 00:08:16,030 Speaker 2: figure is actually a 21% increase from the same time 150 00:08:16,030 --> 00:08:19,170 Speaker 2: last year. So, a huge factor given that the fifth 151 00:08:19,170 --> 00:08:22,490 Speaker 2: wave of COVID-19 really held Hong Kong hostage during that 152 00:08:22,490 --> 00:08:23,350 Speaker 2: time period. 153 00:08:23,530 --> 00:08:26,120 Speaker 2: And when we look at the Covid 19 restrictions that 154 00:08:26,120 --> 00:08:29,460 Speaker 2: Hong kong is facing, it has been incredibly isolating. We 155 00:08:29,460 --> 00:08:32,729 Speaker 2: saw almost daily lockdowns in housing estates and in fact, 156 00:08:32,740 --> 00:08:35,720 Speaker 2: where Mr and mrs Penn live, that song, it was 157 00:08:35,720 --> 00:08:38,430 Speaker 2: a huge mess. Back in february March april, there were 158 00:08:38,429 --> 00:08:42,070 Speaker 2: daily lockdowns happening in that district and there was also 159 00:08:42,070 --> 00:08:45,030 Speaker 2: the dining ban, which started from six p.m. So after 160 00:08:45,030 --> 00:08:47,820 Speaker 2: six PM, people could only take away food, they can't 161 00:08:47,820 --> 00:08:48,430 Speaker 2: dine in, 162 00:08:48,620 --> 00:08:51,630 Speaker 2: but even before six PM hit, people were just queuing 163 00:08:51,630 --> 00:08:55,280 Speaker 2: up to take away their lunches, their breakfast, nobody dared 164 00:08:55,280 --> 00:08:57,300 Speaker 2: to venture out to sit down, have a meal with 165 00:08:57,300 --> 00:09:00,709 Speaker 2: their friends or family. So there's this running narrative of 166 00:09:00,710 --> 00:09:03,240 Speaker 2: fear that it was the end of the road if 167 00:09:03,240 --> 00:09:06,720 Speaker 2: you contracted Covid, and because at that time hospitals were 168 00:09:06,720 --> 00:09:09,670 Speaker 2: full newspapers, news channels, you switch on the tv, you 169 00:09:09,670 --> 00:09:13,480 Speaker 2: see people lying in hospital beds outside the hospitals, they 170 00:09:13,480 --> 00:09:16,290 Speaker 2: were wrapped up in thermal blankets. So there really was 171 00:09:16,300 --> 00:09:18,550 Speaker 2: a lot of fear going around. I remember back when 172 00:09:18,770 --> 00:09:21,260 Speaker 2: It was in February, I was there to do a report, 173 00:09:21,260 --> 00:09:24,010 Speaker 2: I was standing outside one of the hospitals and it 174 00:09:24,010 --> 00:09:27,189 Speaker 2: was below 10°C, you know, I was shivering and I 175 00:09:27,190 --> 00:09:30,620 Speaker 2: was in two jackets. Can you imagine people who are 176 00:09:30,630 --> 00:09:34,369 Speaker 2: sick and bundled up in thermal blankets sitting outside in 177 00:09:34,370 --> 00:09:37,730 Speaker 2: the cold? It was quite a terrible situation to be in. So, 178 00:09:37,910 --> 00:09:41,809 Speaker 2: you know that fear that delaying getting acute care bodies 179 00:09:41,809 --> 00:09:43,750 Speaker 2: were piling up in morgues and all that. It was 180 00:09:43,750 --> 00:09:46,430 Speaker 2: a very sad sight and that's why people did not 181 00:09:46,429 --> 00:09:48,870 Speaker 2: want to go out and that contributed to the rising 182 00:09:48,870 --> 00:09:52,990 Speaker 2: sense of isolation and that eventually also pushed people to 183 00:09:53,000 --> 00:09:56,640 Speaker 2: just stay at home. Exactly pushed them over the edge. 184 00:09:56,640 --> 00:09:56,890 Speaker 2: And 185 00:09:57,140 --> 00:10:01,070 Speaker 2: because there was so much focus on acute care services 186 00:10:01,070 --> 00:10:05,170 Speaker 2: like counseling services like community help, all these were scaled 187 00:10:05,170 --> 00:10:08,600 Speaker 2: down capacity. People weren't getting the help they needed. So 188 00:10:08,610 --> 00:10:11,459 Speaker 2: it's little wonder why they are pushed over the edge. 189 00:10:11,470 --> 00:10:14,240 Speaker 1: Well now then that the pandemic is in retreat and 190 00:10:14,240 --> 00:10:16,470 Speaker 1: Hong kong is opening back up, but there are signs 191 00:10:16,470 --> 00:10:18,850 Speaker 1: that things will improve for seniors. 192 00:10:19,080 --> 00:10:21,990 Speaker 2: Well things have gotten slightly better after the fifth wave. 193 00:10:21,990 --> 00:10:24,820 Speaker 2: So earlier this year, many of the government run daycare 194 00:10:24,820 --> 00:10:28,429 Speaker 2: centers as well as residential homes, they scaled down the capacity, 195 00:10:28,440 --> 00:10:30,670 Speaker 2: that's why the private run centers, they had to pick 196 00:10:30,670 --> 00:10:33,679 Speaker 2: up the demand. But now that the covid situation has 197 00:10:33,679 --> 00:10:36,340 Speaker 2: improved slightly, you know, these centers are slowly resuming the 198 00:10:36,340 --> 00:10:40,360 Speaker 2: normal operation so there's better access to such respite services 199 00:10:40,360 --> 00:10:40,970 Speaker 2: for sure. 200 00:10:41,210 --> 00:10:43,309 Speaker 2: But you know, the situation is a little harder still 201 00:10:43,309 --> 00:10:47,090 Speaker 2: for residential care homes because these care homes, they experience 202 00:10:47,090 --> 00:10:49,930 Speaker 2: a lot of fatal outbreaks during the fifth wave and 203 00:10:49,940 --> 00:10:54,010 Speaker 2: families now are thinking twice about registering their loved ones there. 204 00:10:54,010 --> 00:10:56,660 Speaker 2: And also there are restrictions still for people who want 205 00:10:56,660 --> 00:10:59,569 Speaker 2: to visit their loved ones in these care homes. And 206 00:10:59,570 --> 00:11:03,500 Speaker 2: because you can't go in freely, you can't say, look, 207 00:11:03,500 --> 00:11:05,500 Speaker 2: I want to visit my dad today, I can just 208 00:11:05,500 --> 00:11:07,710 Speaker 2: pop by after work after gym, You can't do that, 209 00:11:07,710 --> 00:11:10,179 Speaker 2: you need to take tests, you need to apply, There 210 00:11:10,179 --> 00:11:10,960 Speaker 2: is a quarter 211 00:11:11,130 --> 00:11:14,679 Speaker 2: so it's incredibly difficult for families to want to take 212 00:11:14,679 --> 00:11:16,390 Speaker 2: care of their loved ones in a care home. So 213 00:11:16,390 --> 00:11:20,430 Speaker 2: people are staying away and unless the social distancing rules 214 00:11:20,429 --> 00:11:23,350 Speaker 2: ease further to take up rate for these social services, 215 00:11:23,360 --> 00:11:24,990 Speaker 2: they will still remain quite low. 216 00:11:25,030 --> 00:11:27,770 Speaker 1: And let's come back then to mental health and what 217 00:11:27,770 --> 00:11:30,470 Speaker 1: our Hong kong authorities and health services doing to address 218 00:11:30,480 --> 00:11:33,740 Speaker 1: the mental health of seniors, given the challenges that they 219 00:11:33,740 --> 00:11:35,220 Speaker 1: are facing as they age. 220 00:11:35,230 --> 00:11:38,460 Speaker 2: So the fundamental problem here, we're looking at is isolation 221 00:11:38,660 --> 00:11:41,380 Speaker 2: and if people can't access the centers or they don't 222 00:11:41,380 --> 00:11:44,030 Speaker 2: want to or can't leave the house. Home visits are 223 00:11:44,030 --> 00:11:46,250 Speaker 2: really didn't express sting. So we're seeing a spike of 224 00:11:46,250 --> 00:11:50,030 Speaker 2: demand for home visit services. That's where baptist Oi Kwan 225 00:11:50,030 --> 00:11:52,780 Speaker 2: social service and that's a social service that Mr Putin 226 00:11:52,790 --> 00:11:56,390 Speaker 2: is engaged in. They do conduct regular visits to homes 227 00:11:56,400 --> 00:11:59,910 Speaker 2: and also during the pandemic, the fifth wave was quite 228 00:11:59,910 --> 00:12:01,580 Speaker 2: isolating for the couple. 229 00:12:01,790 --> 00:12:04,679 Speaker 2: Mr Putin. He actually got in touch with the social 230 00:12:04,679 --> 00:12:08,429 Speaker 2: service and what they did was to arrange remote videoconferences 231 00:12:08,440 --> 00:12:10,750 Speaker 2: calls and all that just to make sure that he's 232 00:12:10,760 --> 00:12:14,520 Speaker 2: not alone. He said that he was going through art therapy, 233 00:12:14,520 --> 00:12:17,610 Speaker 2: there were classes where he could actually interact with other 234 00:12:17,610 --> 00:12:19,040 Speaker 2: caregivers and 235 00:12:19,065 --> 00:12:22,405 Speaker 2: I think that whole sense of isolation has sort of 236 00:12:22,415 --> 00:12:25,795 Speaker 2: been minimized a little bit. So that's where authorities are 237 00:12:25,795 --> 00:12:28,815 Speaker 2: working on. They are conducting outreach programs. They're trying to 238 00:12:28,825 --> 00:12:31,485 Speaker 2: reach out to seniors who are at home alone to 239 00:12:31,485 --> 00:12:33,325 Speaker 2: just let them know, hey look, if you need some help, 240 00:12:33,325 --> 00:12:35,925 Speaker 2: if you need someone to talk to, we're here for you. 241 00:12:36,610 --> 00:12:40,059 Speaker 1: An NGO survey shows that 60% of caregivers in Hong 242 00:12:40,059 --> 00:12:43,180 Speaker 1: Kong are above the age of 61. So it's perhaps 243 00:12:43,179 --> 00:12:46,570 Speaker 1: little surprise as a surge in demand for respite care, 244 00:12:46,580 --> 00:12:49,329 Speaker 1: is that available and how sustainable is it? 245 00:12:49,340 --> 00:12:52,620 Speaker 2: Well, unfortunately, it's not very sustainable. At the moment, we 246 00:12:52,620 --> 00:12:55,110 Speaker 2: spoke to a respite care provider as well as a 247 00:12:55,110 --> 00:12:58,320 Speaker 2: member of Hong kong's elderly commission and they both said 248 00:12:58,320 --> 00:13:01,830 Speaker 2: that there is a serious shortage of manpower and across 249 00:13:01,830 --> 00:13:04,810 Speaker 2: the board at daycare centers, residential care homes. And 250 00:13:04,980 --> 00:13:08,449 Speaker 2: I'll tell you why because COVID is a huge issue 251 00:13:08,450 --> 00:13:11,180 Speaker 2: in Hong Kong right now. And 20% of the care workers, 252 00:13:11,179 --> 00:13:15,370 Speaker 2: they have been redeployed to places like vaccination centers and 253 00:13:15,370 --> 00:13:19,640 Speaker 2: even community isolation facility. So that is one part of 254 00:13:19,640 --> 00:13:22,359 Speaker 2: the problem. The other part of the problem is that 255 00:13:22,360 --> 00:13:25,730 Speaker 2: Hong Kong is experiencing right now and exodus of residents. 256 00:13:25,740 --> 00:13:29,350 Speaker 2: People are tired that there's no end to border restrictions 257 00:13:29,350 --> 00:13:32,490 Speaker 2: before the latest announcement broke that it's going to ease 258 00:13:32,490 --> 00:13:33,540 Speaker 2: quarantine measures. 259 00:13:34,020 --> 00:13:37,250 Speaker 2: There is still uncertainty as to the direction the city 260 00:13:37,250 --> 00:13:41,280 Speaker 2: is going in, especially after the 2019 political turmoil. So 261 00:13:41,280 --> 00:13:43,300 Speaker 2: because of that, a lot of people have up and 262 00:13:43,300 --> 00:13:47,040 Speaker 2: left and manpower is low. So such services, they really 263 00:13:47,040 --> 00:13:49,920 Speaker 2: cannot meet the demand for care that we're seeing at 264 00:13:49,920 --> 00:13:52,800 Speaker 2: the moment. And all these places, the ngos are calling 265 00:13:52,800 --> 00:13:55,990 Speaker 2: for help. They're trying to engage the government to get 266 00:13:55,990 --> 00:13:59,090 Speaker 2: more financial support to cover the cost of operations. They're 267 00:13:59,090 --> 00:14:02,520 Speaker 2: also suggesting incentives to draw younger people to the industry. 268 00:14:02,679 --> 00:14:05,860 Speaker 2: So NGos are also doing their own outreach programs to 269 00:14:05,860 --> 00:14:09,230 Speaker 2: try to get more people excited about helping out. 270 00:14:09,240 --> 00:14:12,260 Speaker 1: Hopefully that will get some traction. This is a story 271 00:14:12,260 --> 00:14:14,439 Speaker 1: that will hit close to home for many of us, 272 00:14:14,440 --> 00:14:17,010 Speaker 1: we all have parents that are aging 273 00:14:17,550 --> 00:14:21,050 Speaker 1: and we ourselves will also be looking ahead to what's 274 00:14:21,050 --> 00:14:23,180 Speaker 1: going to become of us as we age as well? 275 00:14:23,190 --> 00:14:27,270 Speaker 1: What's your biggest takeaway that you've learned while you've been 276 00:14:27,270 --> 00:14:28,770 Speaker 1: working on this story? You 277 00:14:28,770 --> 00:14:31,220 Speaker 2: know, people always say that it takes a village to 278 00:14:31,220 --> 00:14:34,050 Speaker 2: raise a child, but this story showed me that it 279 00:14:34,050 --> 00:14:37,040 Speaker 2: also takes a village to care for someone earlier on 280 00:14:37,040 --> 00:14:40,020 Speaker 2: in his caregiving journey. Mr Putin was adamant that he 281 00:14:40,030 --> 00:14:42,820 Speaker 2: didn't need help at all, but now that he's sending 282 00:14:42,820 --> 00:14:44,479 Speaker 2: his wife to the daycare center, you know, it gives 283 00:14:44,480 --> 00:14:45,920 Speaker 2: him some free time to 284 00:14:46,110 --> 00:14:48,230 Speaker 2: go have some dim sum, go have some beers with 285 00:14:48,230 --> 00:14:50,620 Speaker 2: his friends. It's so important in the long run to 286 00:14:50,620 --> 00:14:53,640 Speaker 2: care for yourself because when you do that, then you 287 00:14:53,640 --> 00:14:55,550 Speaker 2: have the capacity to take care of others. 288 00:14:55,560 --> 00:14:57,650 Speaker 1: Thank you Deborah and your team for all the good 289 00:14:57,650 --> 00:14:59,310 Speaker 1: work you've put into for this story. 290 00:14:59,320 --> 00:15:00,270 Speaker 2: Thank you, steve. 291 00:15:01,680 --> 00:15:04,110 Speaker 1: This episode is part of CNN's wider coverage on the 292 00:15:04,110 --> 00:15:06,950 Speaker 1: issue of mental health as we mark World Mental Health 293 00:15:06,950 --> 00:15:09,510 Speaker 1: Day on monday the 10th of october. If you'd like 294 00:15:09,510 --> 00:15:11,600 Speaker 1: to know more than head over to sienna dot asia 295 00:15:11,610 --> 00:15:14,670 Speaker 1: or download our mobile app. I hope this episode is 296 00:15:14,670 --> 00:15:17,940 Speaker 1: brought home to you the importance of mental health, especially 297 00:15:17,940 --> 00:15:20,430 Speaker 1: as we age. But can we do it with dignity 298 00:15:20,440 --> 00:15:22,880 Speaker 1: and on our own terms and can we make it 299 00:15:22,880 --> 00:15:26,790 Speaker 1: comfortable for our loved ones as their bodies surrender to time? 300 00:15:27,190 --> 00:15:29,310 Speaker 1: Perhaps that's a topic for another episode. 301 00:15:29,610 --> 00:15:32,080 Speaker 1: For now, keep your loved ones close and I'll leave 302 00:15:32,080 --> 00:15:34,800 Speaker 1: the last word to. Mr. Thank you for listening. 303 00:15:36,720 --> 00:15:42,130 Speaker 1: If you want to stay beside your loved ones longer, 304 00:15:42,140 --> 00:15:47,320 Speaker 1: you must learn how to let go and rest. You've 305 00:15:47,320 --> 00:15:52,100 Speaker 1: got to be strong before taking care of the others.