The Army Integrated Home Care Service Team has never ceased their services during the pandemic. Care worker Lai-sheung and her colleagues work every day to provide daily-life services for grassroots elders who are mobility-handicapped, suffering from dementia or with difficulties taking care of themselves. For some elders who are less able, care workers would even pay visit to them to help the household cleaning, help them taking shower and do some basic regular medical checks such as checking the blood pressure or blood sugar level.

Every day, Lai-sheung starts preparing meals for the elderly around 10 in the morning. Due to the pandemic, for hygienic reason the centre began to use disposable boxes for the food. In order to keep the food warm, each meal box is wrapped with a towel. This small gesture not only warms the food but also the hearts of the elderly.

Earlier this year, an elderly member of the service programme has been confirmed with COVID-19 infection. Lai-sheung and other team members who had brought food to this confirmed case have been identified as nonclose contacts. The whole team followed the instructions and underwent 28-day medical surveillance by measuring body temperature in each morning and e vening, closely monitoring their health conditions.

Lai-sheung admitted that she was worried when she first knew about the confirmed case, but she understood that they have done good protection.

'We have always done protective measures when we did the door-to-door delivery. We wore surgical mask and gloves; and if we needed to go inside their flats we would also put on protection gowns and face screens.'

She was consoled to see that the hygienic consciousness has been  heightened among the elderly members over the recent months and the elders she served in turn cared for her well-being. 'They always remind me to drink more water, wash hands frequently and remember to close the toilet lid before flushing.' The caring words from the elders warmed her heart most.