Two interdepartmental groups formed to oversee 10-year elderly and rehabilitation plans

[Photo: Lynzy Valles]

The government has established two interdepartmental coordination groups to oversee the implementation of its 10-year elderly services and rehabilitation services action plans, with each group assigned six key responsibilities.

The groups were established through separate directives issued by Chief Executive Sam Hou Fai and published in the Official Gazette yesterday. Both will be chaired by the Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture, with the director of the Social Welfare Bureau (IAS) serving as deputy chair.

One group will focus on elderly services, coordinating policies and measures in response to Macau’s aging population. The other will oversee rehabilitation services, aiming to support people with disabilities in recovery, independent living and social participation.

According to the directives, the elderly services coordination group will be responsible for promoting cross-departmental implementation of the 10-year plan, submitting biennial work plans to the chief executive, encouraging participation from community and private-sector organizations, conducting regular assessments, proposing policy adjustments and preparing the next phase of the action plan.

The rehabilitation services coordination group will carry out similar duties, including coordinating government departments, submitting implementation proposals, strengthening collaboration with community organizations, reviewing progress, recommending improvements and developing future action plans based on evaluation results.

Both directives took effect today, following their publication.

The government recently launched the second Elderly Services 10-Year Plan and the Rehabilitation Services 10-Year Action Plan to address changing social needs.

The elderly services plan is built around four areas: promoting health and wellness, encouraging active aging, expanding service options and strengthening social inclusion.

It also focuses on areas including health technology, smart solutions, the silver economy and age-friendly design. The 2026 work plan includes initiatives such as a health points scheme, community health stations, smart care and telemedicine platforms, a database for isolated elderly residents and households with two elderly members, and improvements to age-friendly public spaces.

The rehabilitation services plan focuses on rehabilitation, capacity building, support systems and inclusive environments. It includes collaboration among 18 government entities and emphasizes smart technology, accessibility improvements and social inclusion. Measures include the development of AI-assisted speech therapy tools, indoor navigation robots, accessibility mapping and preliminary work on barrier-free building legislation.

The government said the plans will be reviewed regularly to ensure they remain aligned with technological developments and the evolving needs of residents.