The pursuit of a peaceful and dignified end-of-life journey is becoming a crucial aspect of wellness. However, individuals with disabilities often encounter obstacles in accessing palliative and end-of-life care, including communication barriers, physical disabilities, diagnostic overshadowing and other challenges. Fortunately, additional support will soon be available to those in need.

Building on the ongoing Jockey Club End-of-Life Community Care Project (JCECC), the Jockey Club End-of-Life Community Care Project: Unison (JCECC: Unison) project was officially launched on 16 June. Initiated and funded by the Club’s Charities Trust with an approved donation of HK$290 million, JCECC: Unison is a five-year project designed to address the rising demand for personalised palliative and end-of-life care for disabled persons with life-threatening and life-limiting conditions. These individuals can experience considerable physical and emotional stress due to severe or terminal illness.

Caption: Club Steward Dr Henry Chan said JCECC: Unison aims to improve quality of life for persons with physical and intellectual disabilities and persons in mental recovery in need of palliative and end-of-life care, as well as their families

Since its launch in 2016, JCECC has already benefited over 23,000 elderly people and their family members. However, palliative and end-of-life care for persons with disabilities remains underdeveloped, both locally and globally.

Expanding upon JCECC’s existing holistic service models for elderly people with terminal illnesses residing in the community and in elderly homes, JCECC: Unison broadens its scope to include persons with physical and intellectual disabilities and persons in mental recovery as well as to provide support for their caregivers.

Caption: Attending the launch ceremony of JCECC: Unison were Chris Sun, HKSAR Government Secretary for Labour and Welfare (second left); Dr Henry Chan, Club Steward (second right); Dr Ching Wai-kuen, Director (Strategy and Planning) of Hospital Authority (first right); and Professor Ming Wen, Dean of Faculty of Social Sciences of The University of Hong Kong (first left)

JCECC: Unison adopts an evidence-based approach, with cross-disciplinary collaboration between medical and social care sectors, to deliver personalised palliative and end-of-life care services to persons with disabilities at home and in residential care home settings, including symptom management, psychosocial support and advance care planning. In addition, the project provides caregiving skills training and emotional counselling to caregivers to help meet their physical, psychosocial and practical needs.

Caption: Imelda Chan, the Club’s Head of Charities (Positive Ageing & Elderly Care; and Healthy Community) with a beneficiary of JCECC: Unison

JCECC: Unison is expected to benefit over 7,000 persons with disabilities and their caregivers. It will also provide training to health and social care professionals to enhance their capacity in delivering palliative and end-of-life care in the community, while raising public awareness through workshops and community activities.