Hong Kong must plan for needs of vulnerable elderly

It may sound trite to say societies are judged by the way they treat their weakest members. But amid rapid social and demographic change that tests a community's values it is a more relevant measure than ever. The elderly, the impoverished, the infirm and the handicapped remain vulnerable. In this respect, though Hong Kong is renowned for compassionate giving in times of humanitarian need, it is no exception. We are reminded of this in the saddest way by our recent report on the incidence of suicide among people over 65.

In 2012, the rate was 25.4 per 100,000 - double the average across all age groups, according to the Jockey Club's Centre for Suicide Research and Prevention. Internationally, suicide rates among the elderly are generally the highest, but some Asian countries compare badly with the West, as does Hong Kong.

With an ageing population, we cannot expect the problem to go away. The number of people over 65 is predicted to rise from one million to 2.6 million by 2041. But the living environments and social networks essential to their perception of life satisfaction are casualties of the city's increasingly fast pace and worsening overcrowding.

We need to rethink the way urban neighbourhoods are planned in order to restore them if we are to reverse the trend. Experts in suicide prevention say neighbourhoods should be designed to promote integration and socialising among residents. This change cannot be wrought overnight, but the projected increase in the elderly population means a start should be made now in planning. The suicide research centre says elderly people who live alone but socialise with neighbours report a "significantly higher" level of life satisfaction than those who do not. Centre director Professor Paul Yip Siu-fai says homes for the elderly should be designed with a courtyard where people can gather. The government should also consider how to preserve relocated elderly residents' original social networks. The cultural taboo around death and suicide does nothing to encourage debate on these issues. But ageing of the population demands that we address them.