Pensions, lack of quality care homes top worries of elderly in Hong Kong
Survey released to mark Elderly Day finds about half of aged in city concerned about financial security and low number of care facilities
Almost half of the elderly in Hong Kong were upset about their pension arrangements and the lack of quality care homes, a new survey which polled more than 1,000 elderly people showed.
The survey, released to mark Elderly Day yesterday and which was conducted between April and August by the Hong Kong Christian Service, found about half of 1,096 respondents aged 60 and above were not happy about the number and quality of care homes, while 48 per cent worried they did not have enough funds for their retirement.
The levels of disappointment on these two aspects were the highest among 10 factors which most older people believed would affect their hope for the future.
Other factors that upset the respondents include opportunities to contribute to society, elderly health care services, outdoor space and community facilities, and elderly community support and living environment.
“A sense of hope is very important for the mental health of elderly people,” Li Tin-lun, who is in charge of the Hong Kong Christian Service’s Sham Shui Po integrated home care service team, said. “[A lack of hope] may lead to elderly isolation or even suicide.”
Li said that when about half of old people are upset about elderly care services and the pension system, the government needed to pay attention. He said many old people needed to wait for a long time for a place in government-subsidised care homes, while private care homes were either too expensive or had poor service.