Background Information
According to the latest projection of the Census and Statistics Department, people aged 65 or above will increase from 0.89 million in 2009 to 1.33 million in 2019, 2.06 million in 2029 and 2.49 million in 2039. Their proportion in the population will rise from 13% in 2009 to 17% in 2019, 25% in 2029 and 28% in 2039.
In 2011-12, the estimated total Government expenditure on elderly welfare and services is about $39.6 billion, including social security ($17.9 billion), elderly care services ($4.4 billion) and healthcare services ($17.3 billion), representing 16.4% of Government’s recurrent expenditure.
Measures Rolled Out in Recent Years
Social security
- Increasing the rate of the Old Age Allowance (OAA) from $700 per month to $1,000.
- Relaxing the limit of absence from Hong Kong for OAA and Disability Allowance from 240 days to 305 days a year.
- Enhancing the support for elderly recipients and those with disabilities and in ill health under the Comprehensive Social Security Assistance Scheme, including raising the standard rates and widening the coverage of the Community Living Supplement.
Elderly care services
- Increasing the provision of subsidised residential care places for the elderly as far as practicable through various means.
- Enhancing the quality of Residential Care Homes for the Elderly (RCHEs):
- Raising the purchase price of subsidised places under the Enhanced Bought Place Scheme so that the RCHEs concerned can provide physiotherapy treatment and rehabilitation training for the elderly.
- Upgrading subsidised residential care places to provide long-term care for frail elders.
- Implementing a pilot scheme to provide RCHEs with visiting pharmacist services to strengthen their capability in drug management.
- Extending the psychogeriatric outreach services for the elderly to cover more RCHEs.
- Strengthening community care services and helping the elderly age in place:
- Providing additional day care and home care places for the elderly.
- Implementing the District-based Scheme on Carer Training to strengthen the support to carers of elders.
- Providing relevant supplements for subsidised RCHEs and day care centres/units for the elderly to enhance the support for demented elders.
- Subsidising elderly centres to provide outreaching services to help singleton and hidden elders develop social life, and strengthen the referral, counselling and support services to elders in need.
- Helping needy elders who live in dilapidated homes improve their home conditions through the Home Environment Improvement Scheme for the Elderly.
- Provide tailor-made home care services for elders waiting for nursing home places and help them age at home.
- Implementing the Integrated Discharge Support Programme for Elderly Patients to provide integrated support services to elderly hospital dischargees who have difficulties taking care of themselves, and also to their carers.
- Training additional Enrolled Nurses for the welfare sector.
- Giving elderly people aged 70 or above health care vouchers to subsidize them to seek primary healthcare services from the private sector. The Legislative Council has recently approved a commitment to extend the Elderly Health Care Voucher Pilot Scheme until 2014 and increase the annual voucher amount to $500 per eligible elderly person.
- Launching a dedicated portal for the elderly to promote digital inclusion and facilitate their obtaining news and other information from the Internet.
- Setting up the Elderly Academy Development Foundation to encourage elders to continue learning and live an enjoyable and fruitful life.
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