Funded by the Labour and Welfare Bureau and operated by the Hospital Authority (HA), the Integrated Discharge Support Programme for Elderly Patients (IDSP) provides transitional and integrated support services for discharged patients aged 60 or above who are at a higher risk of emergency re-admission. Discharge Planning Teams (DPTs) set up by the public hospitals participating in the IDSP, comprising doctors, nurses, occupational therapists, physiotherapists, etc., formulate personalised discharge plans for patients. The DPTs partner with Home Support Teams (HSTs), which are operated by community service providers commissioned by the HA and mainly comprising social workers and care workers, to provide post-discharge support for patients to enable them to age in place, including referring patients in need to the HA’s geriatric day hospitals for nursing care and rehabilitation services, or providing transitional home support services through community service providers. The IDSP also provides trainings to carers, covering areas such as nursing care, general and disease-specific personal care, etc.

Support for Elderly Persons Discharged from Public Hospitals after Treatment

The source of information is provided by the Social Welfare Department