Health | Home visits for centenarians could be ready by year-end

Macau’s Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture, Alexis Tam, pledged that the government would expand outreach medical care to the homes of citizens who are at least 100 years old, to provide them with more appropriate home support services.

Tam said that the measure could be implemented later this year, noting that there are currently around 300 people over the age of 100 in Macau.

In celebration of the local Senior Citizens’ Day last week, the official said that the SAR government would continue to allocate resources to continuously optimize and improve various services for the elderly, to provide the city’s seniors with a more suitable living environment.

Tam added that medical professionals and even specialists will visit their homes and conduct a comprehensive health assessment, which includes an assessment of their ability to take care of themselves, their cognitive function and their emotional state.

Tam also clarified that the Health Bureau staff and expenditure would remain the same, despite the expansion of their health services.

The secretary also indicated his intention to gradually continue expanding the coverage of home medical services in the future.

He pointed out that the SAR government “attaches great importance to the happiness and health of the elderly in Macau.”