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

Sharing by Sunny Wong
Year-4 student of BSc (Hons) in PT programme

In the 5th outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, most of the residential care homes for the elderly and persons with disabilities have been facing unprecedented difficulties due to the numerous confirmed cases in these facilities. Because of staff shortage, a majority of the residents are not able to receive suitable and timely nursing care or sufficient physiotherapy service, such as therapeutic exercises. I was very glad to be offered a valuable opportunity under the HKCSS scheme to serve the disadvantaged in The Mental Health Association of Hong Kong – Shun Tin Centre, a residential care home for persons with disabilities. This hostel is designed for female adults with severe mental disabilities, and it is the first time for me to serve this type of residents.

The most unforgettable experience throughout my service period is the exercise sessions, which most of the residents were willing to join. At first, I thought it would be difficult to encourage them to take part in this kind of activities, as they might have frequent emotional upheavals. However, their enjoyable participation truly surprised me. Seeing their smiling eyes when performing exercises, I was thankful. I hoped their physical health could be improved with my prescribed exercises.

This is my first time serving a residential care home for persons with disabilities, and I have gained a lot from my communication with the residents. For instance, we should always keep our instructions simple and straightforward, so as to enhance their understanding of the exercise steps. We should also continuously give compliments to them in order to motivate them. Making the exercise fun is also an important mean, as this can catch their attention and allow them to concentrate. Last but not least, we should always keep a calm and friendly attitude towards them so that they will trust us and truly feel that we are reliable.