The Mental Health Review Report (MHRR) proposes recommendations on strengthening workforce training on dementia.

• “Recommendation 6 – There is also a need to increase the supply of healthcare manpower and strengthen their training. Training for healthcare and social care providers should be enhanced so that they are equipped with the necessary skills and knowledge in providing care to persons with dementia”(Food and Health Bureau, 2017a, p. 187).

 The Elderly Service Programme Plan proposes five recommendations on enhancing staff training on dementia detection and sustaining the workforce for elderly services.

• “Recommendation 10(i) – Enhancing workers’ knowledge and skills in early detection of dementia (including mild cognitive impairment cases) in elderly centres at a neighbourhood level and in making timely referrals to appropriate services” (Working Group on Elderly Services Programme Plan, 2017, p. 30).
• “Recommendation 10(ii) – Strengthening training in early detection, management, and care of dementia in elderly service units, particularly in community care services” (Working Group on Elderly Services Programme Plan, 2017, p. 30).
• “Recommendation 12a – Measures to improve recruitment, retention, working condition, and career development of staff in elderly service should be explored” (Working Group on Elderly Services Programme Plan, 2017, p. 32).
• “Recommendation 12b – The structure of professional staff should be fine-tuned to enable more flexible staff deployment and maximisation of staff input” (Working Group on Elderly Services Programme Plan, 2017, p. 33).
• “Recommendation 12d –There should be ongoing monitoring and evaluation of the manpower measures” (Working Group on Elderly Services Programme Plan, 2017, p. 34).

References:

Food and Health Bureau. (2017a). Mental Health Review Report.  Retrieved from https://www.fhb.gov.hk/download/press_and_publications/otherinfo/180500_mhr/e_mhr_full_report.pdf.

Working Group on Elderly Services Programme Plan, Elderly Commission of Government of Hong Kong SAR,. (2017). Elderly Services Programme Plan. Hong Kong: Elderly Commission of Government HKSAR Retrieved from https://www.elderlycommission.gov.hk/en/download/library/ESPP_Final_Report_Eng.pdf.