Sunset Friends

夕陽之友殯葬服務

「開心來、尊嚴活、安心去」是榕光社的服務使命,故「夕陽之友」免費殯葬計劃便是希望協助離世長者能有名有姓的「安心而去」,不想離世長者遺體被政府送去沙嶺,最後墳墓前只得一個編號。

現時除了生前領取綜援的長者由社會福利署發還殯葬費外,其他離世的夕陽之友殯葬費全由榕光社的善長捐出;現時約有300多位長者已參加了「夕陽之友」計劃,她們均已簽署法律文件,以便離世後由榕光社為他們辦理後事,而他們生前是不需繳交任何費用的。長者離世後,他們的銀行存款便會被凍結,所以善長的「施棺」是令他們無後顧之憂。

此計劃超越善終服務的概念,亦非單是殯儀服務,而是重視離世長者的尊嚴,儼如親人的照顧及安排。榕光社尊重長者的生前意願,按她們的委託辦理葬禮及拜祭儀式,即使超出綜援的費用或完全沒有任何資助,本社都會把儀式做到最好。唯一目的就是讓離世的長者於最後一程得到的尊嚴及尊重,實踐「開心來、尊嚴活、安心去」的服務使命。

本年度榕光社接受社會福利署、公立醫院、警方、安老院舍和國際救援組織社工的轉介,為突然離世無依無靠的離世至者辦理後事。本年度便有66位離世長者參與此計劃,並由本社義工負責整個過程,為離世長者送上真誠的祝福。

夕陽之友殯葬服務流程簡介

當收到外界的轉介申請時,榕光社同事便與轉介者確認所有資料,再交給中心審批,批核完成後如合符資格,並會交給夕陽送行者義工協助辦理。過去轉介均來自醫務社工、警察、社會福利署社工、社福機構社工、安老院及親友等。

每一個個案均由兩位夕陽送行者義工共同辦理,夕陽送行者先回中心取相關文件如夕陽之友授權書,再去轉介機構領取離世長者的身份證明文件,然後到醫院取「死因醫學證明書」(俗稱臨時死亡證),接著便去灣仔胡中大廈18樓死亡登記聯合辦事處。這是由入境事務處、衞生署及食物環境衞生署組成約聯合辦事處。這個一站式的聯合辦事處會協助辦理長者的死亡證、火葬許可證和訂火化爐。

於出殯當日,夕陽送行者義工領取遺體及陪伴遺體送往火葬場,為離世長者在紀念花園或海上撒灰,推廣綠色殯葬。離世長者如生前領取綜援,夕陽送行者義工需到社會福利署申請殮葬費用;所有流程完畢後,將所有文件交回中心,並由中心職員存檔後便完成。

Yung Kwong Society - Free Delivery of Eco-coffins to the Needy

Reasons for the commencement of the Sunset Friends Program.

Elderly singletons who do not have relatives to organize burials will have their bodies placed in public mortuaries for six months, and the Government will only give them a number and a long mound of fragrant soil with no name. We absolutely understand that after the elderly have passed away, their bodies can still be respected and given a secure identity.
In view of this, Yung Kwong Society launched the Sunset Friends Program in July 2007 to provide aftercare services to the elderly living alone, so that they can "come happily, live with dignity and go in peace".

Characteristics of the Sunset Friends Program.

We are the first organization to provide free assistance in the handling of after-death affairs for the elderly. We also take care of the elderly who live alone and have no family or relatives, and we fulfill the spirit of helping those who are least able to help themselves and upholding the dignity of the elderly.

New Service Concept.

The Sunset Project goes beyond the concept of hospice service and is not just a funeral service, but emphasizes on the quality of life of the elderly, as if it were a loved one's care and arrangement.
We respect the wishes of the elders and conduct funeral and worship services at specific venues according to their requests, even if the cost exceeds the CSSA quota or there is no subsidy at all, we will do our best to make the service as good as possible.
The sole purpose is to give dignity and respect to the departed on their last journey.

Since its inception, the "Friends of the Sunset" Service Scheme has been recognized and affirmed by various sectors. Government organizations such as the Police, the Social Welfare Department and the Hospital Authority have referred needy cases to the Society for assistance.
At present, there are more than 20 volunteers in the "Friends of the Sunset" and 53 cases have been served in this year, which shows the need of the community for the services of the "Friends of the Sunset".