Hong Kong's despairing old can only wait and hope for overstretched home care service
An NGO allows ailing elderly people the dignity of receiving care in their homes, but thousands more are left to struggle alone without any help
Bowls of hot rice, soup and two Cantonese dishes are laid out on a low table in the flat of Lun Ming-fong, 79, and her husband Lee Tak-kwong, 88.
The couple receive regular deliveries of food, as well as occasional help cleaning the flat and therapy for Lee, who has Alzheimer's disease and has been in frail health for a decade.
Life is tough, but they are considered among the lucky ones, receiving government support via an NGO that allows them to stay in the familiar surroundings of their public rental flat.
Such schemes citywide offer 27,193 places, but more than 4,700 elderly people are on the waiting list - while many more may be unaware of the possibility of receiving such support. And despite the city's ageing population and the government's stated aim of helping people grow old in their homes, years of lobbying from NGOs has not resulted in any extra resources.
"We're very lucky to have help like them," says Lun, as the worker from the Christian Family Service Centre helps her transfer food into bowls and cover it before leaving for the next delivery.
Lun says caring for her husband, who has several other conditions as well as Alzheimer's, is tough even with such support.
"It's still hard ... the whole day revolves around him. I don't really have time even to sleep."