Implementation of Community Care Policy for Older Adults in Hong Kong

Abstract

AbstractCompared to other economies including the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development countries and mainland China, the trend of ageing in Hong Kong Special Administrative Region will be one of the fastest. Hong Kong is already an aged society taken into account of an annual 3% increase of the population of older adults from 2014 to 2019. The government of Hong Kong has formulated policies, provided a number of social welfare services for the senior citizens, established the Elderly Commission and made ‘Care for the Elderly’ as a policy objective. In 2014, the Elderly Services Programme Plan was introduced. Concerning social welfare services, Hong Kong puts emphasis on community care and ageing in place. Due to the voluminous demand of residential services in Hong Kong, the waiting list for quality homes for older adults is long. The needs of such services are clearly expressed as the existing residential homes cannot accommodate the demand. Community care is therefore extensively introduced to support the older adults residing in the community as far as possible. In addition to social welfare, medical and health services are highly needed for those who stay in the community. Primary healthcare is one of the policy directives in Hong Kong in this regard. The chapter will first outline the policies, mechanisms and social welfare services for older adults in Hong Kong. Emphasis will be put on community care. The concepts will be reviewed and revisited. As a community-based health service for older adults, primary healthcare will also be discussed.KeywordsCommunity care policySocial welfare servicesPrimary healthcareOlder adultsHong Kong