涉及弱势老年人的悲剧继续在香港成为头条新闻。令人悲痛的是，在一个快速老龄化、许多人独居或与年迈伴侣同住的社会中，这种情况短期内不太可能改变。迫切需要弥补支持服务的缺口。有关部门已启动多项措施，包括引进受过培训的家政护理人员的计划，但这仅是应对日益严峻问题的起点。
Tragedies involving vulnerable elderly people continue to make headlines in Hong Kong. Sadly, in a rapidly ageing society where many live alone or with an elderly partner, this seems unlikely to change any time soon. There is an urgent need to close gaps in support services. The authorities have initiated several measures, including a plan to import trained domestic carers, but that is only a start on addressing a growing problem.
大约一周前，一名72岁的男子与其69岁的伴侣在她被诊断出帕金森病后，疑似自杀式同意死亡。现场在他们位于屯门的公寓里发现了一盘燃烧的炭和一张纸条。
About a week ago, a man, 72, and his 69-year-old partner died in a suspected suicide pact after she received a diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease. A tray of burnt charcoal and a note were found in their Tuen Mun flat.
此事发生前不久，一名81岁的男子在长沙湾的一间公寓内被发现死亡，其73岁的妻子被发现半昏迷。仅在数周前，曾有两起双重悲剧，涉及两名社交退缩的50多岁兄弟以及一对70多岁的夫妇，全部被发现死亡。这些案件反映出孤立问题。
This came after a man, 81, was found dead in a flat in Cheung Sha Wan, while his wife, 73, was found semi-conscious. Only weeks before, two double tragedies involved socially withdrawn brothers in their 50s and a couple in their 70s, all found dead. These cases reflect the problem of isolation.
社会安全网络不足，尤其是对日益增多的独居或与年迈配偶同住的老年人口而言，使得此类案件更趋不可避免，除非采取行动抵制孤立。
An inadequate social safety network, especially for a growing elderly population living alone or with an elderly spouse, makes more of such cases inevitable unless action is taken to counter isolation.
人口老龄化在低出生率和寿命延长的发达社会中普遍存在，香港亦不例外。预测显示，2028年将有四分之一的居民年龄在65岁及以上。到2040年代，这一比例可能升至三分之一。
Population ageing is common in advanced societies amid lower birth rates and increased longevity. Hong Kong is no exception. It is predicted that one in four residents will be 65 or older by 2028. That proportion could reach one in three by the 2040s.
缺乏强大的家庭网络，这些老年人可能面临孤独和寂寞，进而影响其身心健康。
Without strong family networks, these elderly people can face isolation and loneliness, which affects their physical and mental welfare.
各类倡议和试点方案零星地应对这一问题，但支持网络仍然支离破碎。政府可以利用公共住房作为平台，发挥作用并为所有住宅楼开发树立标杆。
Initiatives and pilot schemes address the problem piecemeal. The support network remains fragmented. The government can use public housing as a platform to make a difference and set a benchmark for all residential flat developments.
值得肯定的是，政府正在试点诸如传感器等措施，以检测弱势或孤立家庭中活动的突然停止。
It is good that it is putting on trial measures such as sensors that detect an abrupt halt of activity in vulnerable aged or isolated households.
在两名兄弟被发现死亡的案例中，据称他们曾由年迈的父母供养，调查人员估计，一人死亡于前一周内，另一人则死亡于数周前。警方未发现可疑情况。
In the case of the two brothers found dead, said to have been financially supported by their elderly parents, investigators estimated that one had died within the previous week, while the other had died several weeks before. Police found no suspicious circumstances.
三天前，当局在马鞍山一处住宅的客厅内发现了一名72岁男子和其74岁妻子的尸体。据信他们患有一系列健康问题。一名法医检查员估计死亡时间大约在三到四天前。
Three days earlier, the authorities found the bodies of a 72-year-old man and his 74-year-old wife in the living room of their Ma On Shan home. They were believed to have suffered from a range of health problems. A forensic examiner estimated the time of death to be about three to four days earlier.
专家表示，针对孤独老年居民的数据库，以及更好地利用技术对其进行监控，可能会带来改变，因为地区层面的社区照护团队通常缺乏他们居住地点的信息。
Experts say a database for isolated elderly residents, and better use of technology to monitor them, could make a difference because district-level community care teams usually lack information on where they live.
该市住房当局今年早些时候宣布，将扩大使用智能技术，例如门传感器、室内跌倒探测器和楼梯爬升器，以提升公共住宅屋邨中老年居民的安全性和便利性。如果这些设备被证明有用，那么扩大其使用将非常值得。
The city’s housing authorities announced earlier this year that they would expand the use of smart technologies, such as door sensors, in-home fall detectors and stair climbers, to enhance safety and convenience for elderly residents in public housing estates. Should these devices prove useful, it could be well worthwhile to expand their use.
当然，任何关于隐私的担忧——除了记录门的开启和使用模式的任何变化之外——都必须得到解决。
Of course, any concerns about privacy – apart from recording the opening of doors and any change in the pattern of use – must be addressed.
当数据发出紧急信号时，速度可能是有效响应的关键，及时的医疗干预可能决定生死。目标应是实现对增强支持服务和响应人员接触急需帮助的老年人和弱势群体能力的技术的广泛接受。
When the data signals an emergency, speed could be key to an effective response, and timely medical intervention could make a life-or-death difference. The aim should be to achieve a wide acceptance of technology that enhances the ability of support services and responders to reach out to the elderly and disadvantaged in urgent need.
在其最新的施政报告中，行政长官李家超宣布了一些对老年护理服务的受欢迎的增量。也有新举措的空间。因此，政府计划明年开展一项试点计划，引入受过培训且经验丰富的外籍家庭护理人员，而非帮工，以支持居家的老年居民，这是件好事。
In his latest policy address, Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu announced some welcome increments to aged care services. There is also room for new initiatives. It is therefore good that the government plans a pilot programme next year to bring in trained and experienced foreign domestic carers, as distinct from helpers, to support elderly residents living at home.
劳工及福利局局长孙玉菡表示，护理人员首先需要在其原籍国完成150小时的课程，包括更高最低工资在内的细节仍需商定。
Secretary for Labour and Welfare Chris Sun Yuk-han has said the carers would first need to complete a 150-hour course in their home country. Details including higher minimum pay need to be worked out.
与此同时，改进孤独居民数据库，以指导地区照护团队并更好地利用技术，仍是前进方向。
Meanwhile, an improved database on isolated residents to guide district care teams and enable better use of technology remains a way forward.