Our Services Hospice Care Services

Since 2004, the Holy Carpenter Church Hospice and Bereavement Service has been dedicated to providing end-of-life support and grief counselling services to terminally ill patients, their families and the bereaved. It advocates the message of "Good Life, Good Death, Good Preparation and Goodbye", helping patients face death peacefully and without regret, while alleviating the grief of their families. Through public education, the service promotes living well in the present and preparing early to avoid future regrets. Services include "Paraclete Care and Comfort Angel" Bereaved Family Support Service, the JCECC—"Hospice in Family" Home Care Support Services, JCECC: End-of Life Care in Residential Care Home for the Elderly Project (Kowloon West), the Jockey Club Community Paediatric Palliative Care Programme , the Funeral Fund and the HBSD Life-and-Death Education Promotion Plan, all working together to foster a compassionate and caring community.

Service Introduction:

Since 2004, the "Paraclete Care and Comfort Angel" has been dedicated to supporting bereaved individuals and families across Hong Kong from diverse backgrounds—regardless of age, region, religion, or ethnicity. To date, the service has benefited over 10,000 bereaved families and individuals. Currently, our services are funded by the Lee Hysan Foundation, Wong Cheuk She Charitable Fund, Sau Ching Charity Foundation, and Shih Wing Ching Foundation until August 31, 2027.

Service Objectives:

• To provide funeral support and companionship as the entry point of bereavement care, complemented by professional grief counseling to help the bereaved cope with loss and rebuild their lives.
• To encourage community participation in volunteer work to support the bereaved.
• To promote a compassionate community for the bereaved through public education.
• To advocate for policies that address the needs of the bereaved.

Target Beneficiaries:

1. Individuals facing the loss of loved ones, including:
• Loss due to illness or natural causes;
• Loss due to sudden deaths such as acute illness, miscarriage, suicide, traffic accidents, industrial accidents, etc.
2. Deceased individuals without family members or relatives, including those under Comprehensive Social Security Assistance (CSSA) or guardianship orders.

Service Content:

Funeral Consultation and Companionship
Our staff assess and assist bereaved individuals in handling funeral arrangements, with trained volunteers accompanying them throughout the entire funeral process, including body identification, funeral, burial or scattering of ashes, and handling of documents.

Emotional Support by Volunteer
Trained volunteers provide emotional support through phone calls and home visits, reaching out to the bereaved in need.

Professional Grief Counseling
Registered social workers or counselors provide professional grief counseling to help bereaved cope with loss and adapt to their new lives.

Peer Support Groups and Activities
Regular gatherings are organized to enable the bereaved to build mutual support networks and navigate their mourning journey together.

Volunteer Development
Volunteers are recruited regularly with training covering topics such as personal preparedness, team-building, emotional support, end-of-life care, and funeral procedures. Regular volunteer gatherings are organized for experience sharing and mutual support.

Funeral Support Hotline
Hotline service to address basic enquiry from the bereaved, such as providing information about funeral arrangements, community resources, and brief emotional support.

Download
Referral form (Chinese only)

Service leaflet (Chinese only)

Case Sharing (Chinese only)

From Bereavement to Fulfilment: Bereavement Bridging Support for children and youth

Parental loss can profoundly impact the life course of children and youth ("C&Y"). Established and funded by The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust with the Hong Kong Sheng Kung Hui Welfare Council as operation partner, the JC Echoes of Love Fund has developed a positive trajectory framework for children and youth, with a professional team of dedicated Trajectory Development Managers (TDM) to provide bereavement support services, and collaborates in the design of personalised development plans for children and youth. To facilitate the implementation of these plans, the Fund offers a monthly stipend for a maximum of five years or until the beneficiary reaches the age of 18. 

Eligibility:

• Hong Kong residents under the age of 18 (full-time students aged 18-21 may be considered based on discretion).
• C&Y who lost parent(s) or legal guardian(s) in the past 30 months.
• Meet the following household income and asset limits:
  • Not above 75% of median monthly household income by household size as per the Census and Statistics Department; and
  • Hong Kong Housing Authority Net Asset Limit for Public Rental Housing

Project uniqueness:

Designated Trajectory Development Manager (“TDM”)

To comprehensively assess the needs of the bereaved C&Y, facilitate in discovery of potential, and co-develop Individualised Development Plan (“IDP”).

Child and Youth-centred Bereavement Support

TDM will provide support for bereaved C&Y and surviving caregiver to cope with grief, adapt to new life and build support network by giving assistance in breaking bad news, funeral companion, counselling, setting up therapeutic and mutual support groups.

Monthly financial support for up to five years

A maximum HK$2,000 per month to realise strength-based IDP.

Service Content:

Bereavement Support (for C&Y and surviving parent/caregiver)

• Funeral reparations (e.g. assisting in breaking bad news)
• Funeral companionship
• Bereavement counselling
• Bereavement support groups and activities

C&Y Development Support

• Individualised Developmental Plan
• Monthly financial support for strength-based IDP
• Mutual support groups

Community Support

• Family activities
• Social resources platform

Application:

• Should be assessed by a registered social worker from the Government, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) or Hospital Authority. The completed referral form should be emailed to Hong Kong Sheng Kung Hui Welfare Council, at: jcelf@skhwc.org.hk
• We will contact the referrer unit within three working days.

Enquires:

Address：Room 1011A, 10/F, Tower A, Hunghom Commercial Centre, 39 Ma Tau Wai Road, Hung Hom, Kowloon

Tel/Whatsapp: 5978 5687

Email: jcelf@skhwc.org.hk

Download

Case Referral Form

Service Leaflet

Service Poster

Established in January 2016 and generously funded by The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust, our service aims to maintain the dignity of terminally ill patients by providing appropriate care in the comfort of their homes. We also strive to raise awareness about home-based end-of-life care and promote a positive attitude towards death.

Our services focus on patients in the Tuen Mun, Yuen Long, and Tin Shui Wai areas. They include:

1. Home-based palliative care and relief services
   Our social workers conduct assessments and offer ongoing support, including psychological counseling, spiritual care, wish fulfillment activities, and rebuilding social connections. Registered nurses provide nursing follow-up and health consultations.
   
   

2. Patient and family support groups
   We establish support groups to enhance social interactions, facilitate positive communication, and reduce stress, enhancing the quality of life for patients and their families.
   
   

3. Public education
   We promote understanding of the needs of terminally ill patients in various aspects of life. We also educate the public on caregiving and communication skills when dealing with terminally ill patients, while fostering a positive attitude towards death.
   
   

4. Volunteer training and services
   We recruit and train volunteers to provide emotional support, practical assistance, and spiritual care. Our staff assist volunteers in managing the challenges and emotions involved in their service.

Download

Service leaflet (Chinese only)

The Jockey Club Palliative Care in Care Homes Program, launched in 2016, supports participating care homes in providing end-of-life care services. The program promotes palliative education and comprehensive care for residents in their late stages of life.

In October 2023, the Hong Kong Sheng Kung Hui Welfare Council established a specialized team for the Palliative Care in Care Homes service in Kowloon West district. The team serves 16 government-subsidized elderly care homes until June 30, 2027.

Who we serve:

Residents, families, and staff of the 16 elderly homes in Kowloon West district.

What we provide:
Palliative education, collaboration with care and medical facilities, caregiver support, and ongoing training and promotion.

Palliative Education Service

Provides lectures and activities to introduce end-of-life planning concepts, disease progression, and care skills.

Collaboration with Care and Medical Facilities

Registered nurses and social workers assess residents' needs, collaborate with care homes and hospitals, and provide follow-up care, consultations, and emotional support.

Caregiver Support

Offers information, encourages communication, and provides bereavement support for families and caregivers.

Training and Promotion

Provides guidance, consultation, and training on end-of-life care for staff involved in the program.

Application: Referral through participating care homes.

The Tai Po fire incident at Wang Fuk Court has left many residents and members of the community facing grief and challenges to their mental, physical, social and spiritual well-being. The Advisory Committee on Mental Health pools strengths from different sectors, inviting seven non-governmental organisations to establish the one-year Compassionate Support Programme for Bereaved Families, with the generous support of The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust. The Programme aims to accompany bereaved families on their journey through grief and healing, extending care and support during adversity, and fostering mutual support and strength.

Target Beneficiaries:

Bereaved individuals and their families affected by the Wang Fuk Court incident in Tai Po

Service Content:

Phase 1: Funeral support

• Assisting bereaved families with body identification, helping to communicate the news of the death to younger or elderly relatives, providing post-incident practical support, and offering bereavement support during funeral arrangements.

Phase 2: Professional Bereavement Counselling and Activities

• Providing free professional bereavement counselling services, including individual and family counselling, bereavement support activities, peer support groups, and grief therapy groups.

Phase 3: Professional Support Referrals

• Referring to clinical psychologists and/or psychiatrists for follow-up services as required based on mental health risk assessments.

Downloads:

Case Referral Form (Chinese only)

Enquiries and Contact:

Helpline: 2362 0268

WhatsApp: 5174 8838

(Referrals can also be made through the "one social worker per household" service)

Service Hours:

Monday to Friday (excluding public holidays) 9:15 am to 6:00 pm

Centre Address:

Unit 11A, 10/F, Block A, Hung Hom Commercial Centre, 39 Ma Tau Wai Road, Hung Hom, Kowloon.

The "DeathFest" program for life and death education, rooted in the "Life and Death Blueprint," aims to equip the public and professionals with knowledge, skills, and a sense of capability in the realms of "good life, good death, peaceful passing, and compassionate parting." Through systematic educational activities and professional training, they strive to cultivate a compassionate community.

Our goals

• To raise public awareness about death and bereavement
• To assist the elderly, patients, and their families in preparing for death
• To provide comprehensive training to professionals supporting terminally ill patients and bereaved families.

The program covers four main categories: "good life," "good death," "peaceful passing," and "compassionate parting," offering courses at different levels to accommodate diverse backgrounds.

Key program topics

• Grief relief and understanding emotional support (D1), counseling methods (D2), and organizing and transforming keepsakes (D3)
• Preparation for the later stages of life: introduction to advanced care planning, advance medical directives, and the Three Treasures of Peace (C1-3)
• Delivering life and death education to specific groups such as children, intellectually disabled individuals, etc.
• On-site visits to funeral venues and reflection on life and death (B4)
• Exploring life and death through artistic forms and writing life stories (A4, A5, B3, B11)

To promote a positive mindset regarding end-of-life, grief, and life and death topics, the division collaborates with other organizations to host lectures, workshops, and field trips. These activities explore themes such as life education, field investigations, and an introduction to funeral knowledge in Hong Kong.

JC HERizon: Women's Career Empowerment Hub is funded by The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust and operated by The Hong Kong Sheng Kung Hui Welfare Council. Pilot Scheme on Bereavement Support Worker aims to train community women and enthusiastic individuals to become bereavement support ambassadors, serving families facing the loss of loved ones in the community. The program will run from January 1, 2025, to December 31, 2027.

Service Objectives:

• Empowering Women: To train community women to become "Bereavement Support Ambassadors," leveraging the unique experiences and capabilities of middle-aged women.
• Accompanying Grieving Families: The program team and "Bereavement Support Ambassadors" will provide practical support to grieving families, including funeral consultation, referrals, companionship during mourning, emotional support, and assistance in adapting to life without the deceased.
• Professionalization of Bereavement Support: To train community women to become bereavement support workers to fill service gaps, enabling grassroots or community women to build professional skills and strengthen support services for the bereaved.

Target Beneficiaries:

1. Women aged 35-55 interested in re-entering the workforce and engaging in support services for the bereaved.
2. Families in the community facing loss.

Service Content:

• Training and Internship: Participating women will undergo at least 12 hours of "Bereavement Support Ambassador Training" and complete at least 20 hours of practicum service.
• Serving as "Bereavement Support Ambassadors": Participants who meet training, internship requirements, and performance standards will officially become "Bereavement Support Ambassadors," providing services to grieving families. (Ambassadors will provide services in the form of service allowance.)
• Support Services for the Bereaved: The program team and "Bereavement Support Ambassadors" will offer appropriate practical support to the bereaved and their families, including funeral consultation, referrals, companionship during mourning, and emotional support.