The practice of some elderly homes in storing and holding possessions or property on behalf of residents has come under the scrutiny of the Consumer Council.
Such practice has led to allegations of financial abuse in residential care homes for the elderly.
In a complaint case brought to the Consumer Council for mediation, an elderly home demanded to keep a resident's bankbook with authorization to draw payments from the account.
The complainant alleged that the elderly home had overcharged the home fees by more than $10,000 during a 1? year period. With the joint mediation efforts made by the Consumer Council and Social Welfare Department (SWD), the complainant had successfully got back the overcharged home fees from the home.
In some cases, private homes may require their residents who are welfare recipients, to transfer the entire sum of financial aid they received to the home as payments for services, commonly known as "all-encompassing package（全包）".
The Consumer Council does not recommend such practice as the types of services provided are not clearly defined, giving rise to potential abuse and dispute.
SWD has provided clear guidelines for elderly homes on the handling of residents' financial matters and property in its Code of Practice for Residential Care Home (Elderly Persons).
Operators of elderly homes are reminded to strictly adhere to the Code requiring them to maintain written consent and authorization, and record of transactions for inspection by SWD's inspectors and residents or their family members.
The elders and their family are urged to keep record of receipts and contracts as evidence in the event of dispute.
Always visit at least several homes and compare them for environment, visible service quality, fees and charges, contract terms and conditions, and rules for residents before deciding on which one to enroll. It is also advisable to bring the elder along for a site visit.
Read carefully the contract; raise any terms and conditions that may be problematic or not suitable to you and ask whether they can be revised. Otherwise, move on to another elderly home.
Members of the family should keep an eye on the service quality of the home they have chosen for their elder. If service quality deteriorates, request improvement and resolve problems.
Should the situation continue to be unsatisfactory, consider to move to another elderly home, or if necessary seek help from the Consumer Council or SWD.
The Council's report contains also a step by step guide to assist consumers in the choice of an elderly home, and advice on matters related to handling of possessions or property of residents.
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