HKCSS “Youth Internship in Caring Profession for a Brighter Future” Project

Sharing by Mandy Lee
Year-4 student of BSc (Hons) in PT programme

The healthcare system in Hong Kong has been challenged by a huge surge in Covid-19 cases. Services at most of the residential care homes for the elderly and persons with disabilities have also been adversely affected. Thanks to the scheme of “健康專業專上學生院舍工作計劃” launched by HKCSS, I have had the precious chance to work at SAHK Tin Yiu Hostel, a residential care home for severely physically handicapped persons which provides rehabilitation services for their residents. Not only is this a valuable chance for me to contribute to society with what I have learned in the past four years, but it also allows me to gain hands-on experience and a deeper understanding of the role of physiotherapists in these hostels.

Because of the fifth wave of COVID-19, all of the residents had to stay in their rooms for infection control for the past few weeks. As a result, their physical abilities had been drastically reduced. They were just allowed to resume their routine exercise sessions on my first day of work. As a student worker, I followed the therapist there and assisted him in leading the exercise sessions for the residents. Due to the immobilisation in the past weeks, most of them had deconditioned to different extents and we had to be cautious in prescribing exercises and to provide modifications when necessary. The hostel advocates the use of conductive education, with teaching and learning oriented towards social goals, which allows the cultivation of self-identity, self-discipline, and self-determination of residents. Therefore, other than the exercise sessions, training is also incorporated into activities of daily living. Every activity (e.g. feeding and showering) is considered therapeutic here as well. I realised that as a therapist at a residential care home, we must keep learning and be more all-rounded to be familiar with every life aspect of patients and provide holistic care and training.