https://www.scmp.com/rss/318765/feed en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Fiona Sun Fiona Sun Hong Kong’s housing authorities will expand the use of smart technologies, such as door sensors, in-home fall detectors and stair climbers, to enhance safety and convenience for elderly residents at public estates as the city’s population ages. Michael Hong Wing-kit, deputy director of housing overseeing estate management, said a pilot scheme to install sensors, which track door activity and send alerts, in public flats with elderly occupants would be expanded to include Tung Wui Estate in Wong... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3349080/housing-authorities-expand-use-smart-technologies-support-elderly?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3349080/housing-authorities-expand-use-smart-technologies-support-elderly?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 06 Apr 2026 03:00:15 +0000 Mike Rowse Mike Rowse The HK$2 (US$0.26) transport fare scheme for the elderly is one of Hong Kong’s most socially significant success stories. But some of the recent changes, and further ones contemplated, seem to be rowing in a different direction. We need to pause and take stock before we inadvertently undo some of our good work. In the process, we should also take the chance to ensure the long-term affordability of the scheme. The subsidy scheme was introduced in 2012 after an announcement in the 2011 policy... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3348958/hong-kong-must-not-undo-good-work-its-hk2-transport-scheme?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3348958/hong-kong-must-not-undo-good-work-its-hk2-transport-scheme?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 05 Apr 2026 12:30:09 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse In a corner of suburban Singapore, Betty Boon vaults a guardrail, crawls underneath a slide, executes forward shoulder rolls and scales a steep slope, finishing the course to applause. “Good job!” the 69-year-old’s coach cheers. This is “geriatric parkour”, where around 20 retirees learn to tackle a series of relatively demanding exercises, building their agility and enjoying a sense of camaraderie. Boon, an upbeat grandmother, says learning parkour has aided her confidence and independence as... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3348892/why-singaporeans-aged-60-plus-are-learning-parkour?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3348892/why-singaporeans-aged-60-plus-are-learning-parkour?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 05 Apr 2026 04:15:08 +0000 Edith Lin Edith Lin Authorities have demanded that Hong Kong’s largest franchised bus operator investigate glitches in its fare rebate machines, which provided free trips to passengers on the day a revised HK$2 (26 US cents) transport subsidy scheme was implemented. The city’s welfare minister also stressed on Saturday that the problems that occurred with KMB’s machines the previous day – when the revised scheme took effect – did not involve any malfunction in the government’s own system. “We understand that the... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3349016/kmb-told-probe-machines-gave-free-bus-rides-revised-hk2-scheme-launched?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3349016/kmb-told-probe-machines-gave-free-bus-rides-revised-hk2-scheme-launched?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 04 Apr 2026 04:00:32 +0000 Edith Lin Edith Lin Hong Kong’s elderly residents have raised concerns about the financial burden placed on their low-income peers under a revised HK$2 (26 US cents) transport fare scheme that came into force on Friday, with some avoiding higher-charging, long-route buses. Secretary for Labour and Welfare Chris Sun Yuk-han said the implementation of the new arrangements had gone smoothly on the first day. He also stressed that the government was still subsidising a large part of the fares and the saved funds would... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3348933/revamped-transport-fare-scheme-triggers-concerns-about-cost-working-elderly?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3348933/revamped-transport-fare-scheme-triggers-concerns-about-cost-working-elderly?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 03 Apr 2026 07:53:25 +0000 Letters Letters Feel strongly about these letters, or any other aspects of the news? Share your views by emailing us your Letter to the Editor at letters@scmp.com or filling in this Google form. Submissions should not exceed 400 words I refer to the letter, “Why BMI should be just one data point among many” (March 25). The Department of Health shares a common goal with our community: the well-being of everyone in Hong Kong. We truly welcome feedback and perspectives which help raise awareness and bring us... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3348178/bmi-starting-point-not-whole-story-hong-kongs-weight-management-plan?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3348178/bmi-starting-point-not-whole-story-hong-kongs-weight-management-plan?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 30 Mar 2026 03:30:09 +0000 Charmaine Yu Charmaine Yu Retired civil engineer Lim Shyang Guey will don his running shoes on March 28 for a 2,200km (1,367-mile) journey around Peninsular Malaysia. The 90-day “Run for Gold” campaign is Lim’s attempt to finish a gruelling circuit by June 22 – his 67th birthday. The inspiration for this challenge comes from profound loss. In November 2023, Lim and his wife, Goh Joo Lee, were celebrating her completion of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge Half Marathon – her first ever race. But soon after, she began to... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3347978/66-year-old-sets-2200km-run-around-peninsular-malaysia-honour-his-wife?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3347978/66-year-old-sets-2200km-run-around-peninsular-malaysia-honour-his-wife?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 27 Mar 2026 23:15:13 +0000 Letters Letters Feel strongly about these letters, or any other aspects of the news? Share your views by emailing us your Letter to the Editor at letters@scmp.com or filling in this Google form. Submissions should not exceed 400 words Hong Kong’s low birth rate has shrunk the number of children attending school, burdening school budgets and threatening pupils’ learning. We must swiftly reform our schools for a brighter educational and economic future. Since 2012, Hong Kong’s crude birth rate has fallen most... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3347817/hong-kongs-low-birth-rate-calls-swift-thoughtful-school-restructuring?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3347817/hong-kongs-low-birth-rate-calls-swift-thoughtful-school-restructuring?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 26 Mar 2026 03:30:08 +0000 Kavita Daswani Kavita Daswani Joe Yoon notices it even in the middle of a conversation – a subtle tightening in his back, the instinct to shift in a chair, the small signals the body sends when it has not been moved enough. The sensations are easy to ignore. But for a mobility expert like Yoon, it is exactly the kind of thing that reveals a much bigger truth about how we age. “Even sitting here doing this interview, my back starts to get stiff and I shift around,” says Yoon, 39, over Zoom from his home in Charlotte, in the... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3347578/just-9-minutes-day-mobility-routine-can-help-you-age-better?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3347578/just-9-minutes-day-mobility-routine-can-help-you-age-better?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 25 Mar 2026 03:00:15 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial It says something about the times that in February 2022, compared with now, lowering the age bar from 65 to 60 for the HK$2 transport fare subsidy for the elderly, adding 815,000 beneficiaries, didn’t ring more warning bells about sustainability. It was, after all, during the Covid-19 pandemic, when the government was issuing cash vouchers and when public morale and economic confidence were paramount. Lowering the bar for people at or near the end of normal working life struck an empathetic... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3347670/changes-hk2-transport-fare-subsidy-will-ensure-scheme-viable?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3347670/changes-hk2-transport-fare-subsidy-will-ensure-scheme-viable?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 24 Mar 2026 22:45:08 +0000 Anthea Rowan Anthea Rowan This is the 85th instalment in a series on dementia, including the research into its causes and treatment, advice for carers, and stories of hope. As an erratic sleeper, I worry when I see a headline such as this recent one from Science News: “Poor sleep may account for a large share of dementia cases.” That headline topped an article about a recent study of older adults in the US. It found that about 13 per cent of dementia cases may have roots in insomnia, and that poor sleep may be as... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3347263/how-poor-sleep-can-increase-dementia-risk-and-what-know-about-links?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3347263/how-poor-sleep-can-increase-dementia-risk-and-what-know-about-links?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 22 Mar 2026 23:15:10 +0000 Kolette Lim Kolette Lim The clack of mahjong tiles, the soft rattle of exercise bikes and the slow thrum of sewing machines are the soundtrack to Monday afternoons at the Yong-en Active Hub: a senior centre with the vibe of a social club, where new skills and friendships are the antidote to old age. At the Bukit Merah estate in central Singapore, Agnes Chen, 74, strolls through the swinging doors, declines entreaties to join a game of Rummikub – a tile-based hybrid of mahjong and rummy – and fixes herself a... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/health-environment/article/3347359/super-aged-singapores-secret-growing-old-well-stay-busy?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/health-environment/article/3347359/super-aged-singapores-secret-growing-old-well-stay-busy?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 22 Mar 2026 04:00:16 +0000 Ritu Hemnani Ritu Hemnani Hong Kong women navigating menopause have often felt the need to “soldier on”, their hot flushes dismissed by others – and themselves – as stress, their mood swings blamed on “having teenagers” and their fatigue chalked up to ageing. But a new non-profit organisation aims to put a stop to that. The Hong Kong Menopause Society (THKMS), which will officially launch on March 28, aims to boost awareness and understanding of perimenopause and menopause issues, both for the women who have them and for... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3347116/how-new-hong-kong-menopause-support-group-aims-help-women-through-difficult-life-stage?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3347116/how-new-hong-kong-menopause-support-group-aims-help-women-through-difficult-life-stage?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 21 Mar 2026 07:15:09 +0000 Aidan Jones,Kolette Lim Aidan Jones,Kolette Lim Death is the family business for Viroj Suriyasenee, a second-generation Thai funeral director. His bespoke coffins range from plain wooden boxes to ornate creations trimmed in gold with plush red velvet interiors, priced anywhere from US$30 to US$30,000 – each one representing a story of loss, grief and a life concluded. They also speak to the sheer scale of Asia’s ever-growing, multibillion-dollar death economy. All the coffins Viroj makes are destined for the cremation furnace, yet the... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/health-environment/article/3347355/ageing-southeast-asia-fights-fears-death-brave-inevitable?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/health-environment/article/3347355/ageing-southeast-asia-fights-fears-death-brave-inevitable?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 21 Mar 2026 00:00:09 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial Hong Kong’s medical insurance sector is walking something of a tightrope of late, buffeted by an ageing population and increasing demands from international markets. Finding a healthy balance will be vital for the city’s growth as a global financial hub. It is good that the Insurance Authority has pledged to undertake an in-depth analysis this year of medical insurance costs and available products, as well as review regulations to draw more international life insurance buyers. Clement Lau... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3346965/medical-insurance-review-timely-move-sector-under-pressure?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3346965/medical-insurance-review-timely-move-sector-under-pressure?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 18 Mar 2026 22:45:08 +0000 Enoch Yiu Enoch Yiu Hong Kong’s Insurance Authority aims to increase transparency and the available range of medical insurance products to address rising costs, while also reviewing regulations with an eye towards attracting more international life-insurance buyers. “We would like to see the insurance companies introduce more medical insurance products that are more accessible and affordable for the general public, with sales practices that are fair to consumers,” said Clement Lau Chung-kin, the authority’s... https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3346649/hong-kong-regulator-sets-comprehensive-review-medical-insurance-costs?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3346649/hong-kong-regulator-sets-comprehensive-review-medical-insurance-costs?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 16 Mar 2026 01:00:12 +0000 Xinyi Wu Xinyi Wu Some Chinese lawmakers and advisers are pushing to secure higher pensions for elderly farmers, underscoring the persistent income disparity between the country’s urban and rural residents. The latest government work report, approved on Thursday, confirmed a 20-yuan (US$2.91) monthly increase to basic pension payments for a third consecutive year, bringing the national minimum to 163 yuan. However, some deputies from China’s top legislature contend that this level is inadequate. “A pension of... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3346368/chinas-rural-pensions-focus-lawmakers-fight-farmers-fair-share-amid-income-gap?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3346368/chinas-rural-pensions-focus-lawmakers-fight-farmers-fair-share-amid-income-gap?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 13 Mar 2026 00:00:11 +0000 Bhakti Mathur Bhakti Mathur From a childhood marked by loss to an abusive marriage that nearly claimed her life, Shyy Sachdev’s journey has been anything but ordinary. When told at 49 she might only have five years left to live, the then overweight chain smoker chose to reinvent herself. She began exercising regularly at age 50, strength training at 52, running at 53 and cycling at 61. Today, at 62, she is a force of endurance and resilience. Stronger and happier than ever, the UK resident and fitness influencer now shares... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3346044/how-100kg-chain-smoker-lost-40kg-fixed-knee-pain-and-became-fitness-influencer?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3346044/how-100kg-chain-smoker-lost-40kg-fixed-knee-pain-and-became-fitness-influencer?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 11 Mar 2026 03:00:08 +0000 Anthea Rowan Anthea Rowan This is the 84th instalment in a series on dementia, including the research into its causes and treatment, advice for carers, and stories of hope. I did not recognise the signs of dementia developing in mum – the changes in her walking, her frequent need to urinate, her difficulty in swallowing – until quite late. Looking back, I see how they developed one after another. Nearly 80 per cent of all dementias are caused by Alzheimer’s disease. The hallmark of this is the abnormal deposit of... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3345912/dementia-can-be-hard-spot-signs-pay-attention-trouble-eating-fitful-sleep?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3345912/dementia-can-be-hard-spot-signs-pay-attention-trouble-eating-fitful-sleep?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 09 Mar 2026 04:15:07 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press Megan Worthy still recalls singing in a choir in the Australian capital, Canberra, as she was growing up. Now, as a rare form of early-onset dementia chips away at her vision and other brain functions, the 58-year-old is transported back to her musical youth as she and her daughter, Bronte, sing together with other people with neurological conditions in an Amsterdam concert hall, the Concertgebouw. “It’s pretty brutal,” Worthy said of her rare neurological condition. “I’m starting to lose... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3345892/singing-circle-amsterdam-offers-benefits-dementia-patients?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3345892/singing-circle-amsterdam-offers-benefits-dementia-patients?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 08 Mar 2026 12:07:17 +0000 Ren Yan Ren Yan My grandma, now in her 90s, has long held together an extended family including four children and six grandchildren. As a Chinese saying goes, “Having an elder in the family is like having a treasure.” While my aunt, father and two uncles all live near her in the same city in northern China, my generation has ventured out to different places. Yet no matter where we have settled, no trip home is complete without a visit to Grandma. When I first moved to Beijing, I had to travel about five hours... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3345599/china-some-us-are-keeping-elderly-care-family-now?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3345599/china-some-us-are-keeping-elderly-care-family-now?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 07 Mar 2026 01:30:08 +0000 Sasha Gonzales Sasha Gonzales Benny Ratnani celebrated his 75th birthday this week, but he still works over 70 hours a week at his company, which he founded in Hong Kong in 1982. The sole proprietor and chairman of Bee Dee Manufacturing travels frequently for work. His wholesale and export company, which employs 35 people in Hong Kong and mainland China, supplies products ranging from fashion and accessories to toys, electronics and home goods to clients primarily in the Middle East, India and the United States. Born in... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3345206/should-you-retire-mental-health-benefits-working-past-traditional-retirement-age?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3345206/should-you-retire-mental-health-benefits-working-past-traditional-retirement-age?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 04 Mar 2026 03:00:08 +0000 Alice Wu Alice Wu Hong Kong hit a record low in births last year despite a range of government incentives, including a HK$20,000 (US$2,560) baby cash bonus for new parents launched in 2023. Just 31,714 babies were born last year. This might have come as a surprise for the authorities, which had projected a rise to 39,000 births. So was the baby bonus worth the try? Yes, if we can draw insight from the experience. To be fair, it wasn’t the only thing the government had done to encourage babies. It rolled out tax... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3344937/hong-kong-cant-raise-its-birth-rate-without-easing-education-stress?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3344937/hong-kong-cant-raise-its-birth-rate-without-easing-education-stress?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 02 Mar 2026 01:30:09 +0000 Kenny Shui,Pascal Siu,Katie Ho Kenny Shui,Pascal Siu,Katie Ho Following a challenging cycle, Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po has delivered a budget returning Hong Kong to the black. After consecutive operating deficits, the operating account has returned to profit. Simultaneously, the consolidated account records a HK$2.9 billion (US$370.6 million) surplus for 2025/26, signalling stability. This turnaround is driven largely by a buoyant stock market and a stabilising property sector, reviving stamp duty revenues and investment income. This provides... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3344819/after-celebrating-its-surplus-hong-kong-must-work-sustaining-it?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3344819/after-celebrating-its-surplus-hong-kong-must-work-sustaining-it?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 28 Feb 2026 01:30:07 +0000 Anthea Rowan Anthea Rowan This is the 83rd instalment in a series on dementia, including the research into its causes and treatment, advice for carers, and stories of hope. Doing “brain training” tests can make me a bit nervous. The anxiety triggers silly mistakes, and then “poor” results make me more anxious – especially when they are dementia tests. What if I fail, or my score points to a suboptimal brain response? I am also suspicious of them: how could an online test measure brain response accurately, and – even more... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3344094/what-best-brain-training-test-reduce-dementia-risk-study-examines-various-types?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3344094/what-best-brain-training-test-reduce-dementia-risk-study-examines-various-types?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 22 Feb 2026 23:15:10 +0000 Yeon Woo Lee Yeon Woo Lee China and South Korea have had a turbulent relationship over the past few years as they compete across a range of hi-tech industries. But the two countries now appear to be bonding over a shared challenge: their rapidly ageing societies. The issue has featured on the agenda of several meetings between President Xi Jinping and South Korean President Lee Jae Myung in recent months, with the leaders pledging to work together to deal with the economic changes being wrought by their nations’ low... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3343740/china-and-south-korea-find-new-shared-bond-their-rapidly-ageing-societies?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3343740/china-and-south-korea-find-new-shared-bond-their-rapidly-ageing-societies?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 18 Feb 2026 06:00:10 +0000 Luna Sun Luna Sun China’s marriage registrations edged up in 2025, offering a glimmer of hope for the birth outlook this year, but analysts caution that deeper demographic headwinds remain entrenched and difficult to reverse without broader policy support. China recorded 6.76 million marriage registrations nationwide in 2025, according to the Ministry of Civil Affairs, marking a 10.8 per cent increase from a year earlier, or 657,000 more couples. The number of marriage registrations is closely watched in China,... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3343330/chinas-marriage-rebound-will-more-2025-knots-bring-more-baby-bumps-2026?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3343330/chinas-marriage-rebound-will-more-2025-knots-bring-more-baby-bumps-2026?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 13 Feb 2026 01:00:08 +0000 Rachel Chan Rachel Chan Hong Kong stands at a definitive demographic crossroads. With one-third of our population projected to be over 65 by the 2040s, the city can either treat ageing as a fiscal burden or it can transform longevity into a sustainable growth engine. Drawing inspiration from Andrew Scott and Lynda Gratton’s work on the 100-Year Life project, Hong Kong should boldly embrace longevity as a new development frontier. By leveraging our unique strengths in finance, world-class regulatory frameworks and... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3343200/hong-kong-should-see-silver-economy-golden-opportunity?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3343200/hong-kong-should-see-silver-economy-golden-opportunity?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 12 Feb 2026 21:30:10 +0000 dpa dpa Having a brew may be more ‌beneficial than the immediate comfort it offers, experts suggested after a new study linked drinking tea and coffee with a reduced risk of dementia. Those who drink caffeinated versions ‍of these hot drinks also have better mental skills than people who do not, the large new study found. Researchers pinpointed the number of cups each day linked to reduced dementia risk. Experts from Harvard University examined data on 131,000 health workers in the United States, who... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3343295/drinking-tea-and-coffee-every-day-may-lower-dementia-risk-boost-cognitive-function?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3343295/drinking-tea-and-coffee-every-day-may-lower-dementia-risk-boost-cognitive-function?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 12 Feb 2026 20:15:10 +0000 Nixie Lam Nixie Lam Hong Kong’s pressing demographic challenges demand tailored, well-considered civil service policies. However, the proposal put forward in recent Legislative Council debates on population policy to raise the retirement age for all civil servants to 65 offers no viable solution to these issues. This one-size-fits-all approach overlooks the civil service’s flexible retirement frameworks and works against the government’s goals of streamlining and modernising the public sector. It risks undermining... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3342914/one-size-fits-all-retirement-age-civil-servants-wont-suit-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3342914/one-size-fits-all-retirement-age-civil-servants-wont-suit-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 12 Feb 2026 01:30:08 +0000 Kavita Daswani Kavita Daswani At 83, Charles Mammay starts most mornings the same way: a good long stretch as soon as he is out of bed, and then adjourning to his home exercise room. There, he reaches for a pair of 25-pound (11.3kg) dumbbells and begins his routine – shrugs, side bends, then down to the floor for 50 to 80 push-ups and flutter kicks to work his core. An overhang pulley on the door helps him stretch his shoulders; exercise bands add resistance. By the time most of his neighbours in Oak Island, in the US state... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3343052/how-83-year-old-can-do-more-push-ups-and-pull-ups-nearly-anyone-reading?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3343052/how-83-year-old-can-do-more-push-ups-and-pull-ups-nearly-anyone-reading?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 11 Feb 2026 03:00:08 +0000 Winston Mok Winston Mok As the Year of the Snake ends, more than 9 billion passenger journeys will unfold during China’s Spring Festival travel period, the greatest annual human migration on Earth. For some, these are the only few weeks in the year when families are together. For many, this is a period when they can find temporary relief from loneliness – from the striving and adjusting, even if not yet assimilating, in the cities where they work, far from their hometowns. The lucky ones, who can make ends meet and are... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3342802/loneliness-crisis-price-china-paying-rapid-modernisation?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3342802/loneliness-crisis-price-china-paying-rapid-modernisation?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 10 Feb 2026 10:01:15 +0000 Anthea Rowan Anthea Rowan This is the 82nd instalment in a series on dementia, including the research into its causes and treatment, advice for carers, and stories of hope. Should we eat a high-fat or low-fat diet for health? This debate has shaped health advice for decades, says Emily Sonestedt of Lund University in Sweden. Sonestedt is the senior author of a study that observed that high-fat dairy products – specifically fermented options like cheese and high-fat cream – were associated with a lower risk of dementia in... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3342871/how-much-fat-you-should-eat-day-and-what-foods-eat-plus-why-your-brain-needs-it?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3342871/how-much-fat-you-should-eat-day-and-what-foods-eat-plus-why-your-brain-needs-it?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 09 Feb 2026 08:14:30 +0000 Mike Rowse Mike Rowse We live in an interesting time. It has become clear that many Hong Kong couples would rather have a pet than a child. Small families are now the norm: a 2022 survey by the Family Planning Association showed that childless families made up 43.2 per cent of the population, followed by one-child families at 27.4 per cent and two-child families at 25.2 per cent. Anyone still in doubt would have done well to attend the recent Hong Kong Pet Show, which attracted around 370,000 visitors over the four... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3342563/so-what-if-some-countries-have-fewer-babies-and-shrinking-populations?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3342563/so-what-if-some-countries-have-fewer-babies-and-shrinking-populations?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 08 Feb 2026 21:30:15 +0000 Sasha Gonzales Sasha Gonzales Hong Kong actors Chow Yun-fat, 70, Kent Cheng, 74, Lau Kong, 79, and Paw Hee-ching, 76, made headlines in January for being among the oldest participants in the 10km event at the Standard Chartered Hong Kong Marathon 2026. In 2025, the then 69-year-old Chow ran the half-marathon at the event, completing the 13.1-mile (21km) race in two hours, 24 minutes and 33 seconds. Recently, a growing number of people in their sixties, seventies, eighties and older have been in the news for taking part in... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3342586/how-people-70-year-old-chow-yun-fat-keep-pushing-their-endurance-limits-they-age?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3342586/how-people-70-year-old-chow-yun-fat-keep-pushing-their-endurance-limits-they-age?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 07 Feb 2026 04:45:07 +0000 SCMP’s Asia desk SCMP’s Asia desk A South Korean governor has sparked outrage after he proposed “importing Sri Lankan and Vietnamese virgins” to help stem the population decline in provincial areas. Jindo county Governor Kim Hee-soo made the suggestion during a town hall meeting in South Jeolla to discuss an administrative merger of nine cities and counties in the province with Gwangju Metropolitan City. “Of the 89 regions facing declining populations nationwide, 20 per cent are in South Jeolla province. We need to solve this... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3342471/outrage-south-korea-over-importing-virgins-proposal-raise-birth-rate?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3342471/outrage-south-korea-over-importing-virgins-proposal-raise-birth-rate?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 05 Feb 2026 05:48:46 +0000 Robin Hu Robin Hu I pay far less attention to China’s growth numbers today. What matters more is where fiscal capacity is flowing. China has entered a phase where population ageing, security needs and industrial upgrading all draw on the same budget. This shift follows a structural adjustment in property. Income from land sales – once a pillar of local government finance – has fallen sharply and is unlikely to return. Balance sheets will have to be reset. The question is no longer how much stimulus Beijing can... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3342057/chinas-real-constraint-where-direct-limited-fiscal-resources?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3342057/chinas-real-constraint-where-direct-limited-fiscal-resources?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 03 Feb 2026 08:30:38 +0000 Zhu Wenqian Zhu Wenqian China’s largest private education company in terms of market value has begun offering leisure courses such as dance and photography for older adults in Beijing, as it pivots towards the country’s fast-growing silver economy. Beijing-based New Oriental Education & Technology Group – which is dual listed in New York and Hong Kong – built its reputation by helping millions of Chinese students prepare for overseas English-language tests such as the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) and... https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3342108/silver-bullet-new-oriental-pivots-late-age-learners-china-ages?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3342108/silver-bullet-new-oriental-pivots-late-age-learners-china-ages?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 02 Feb 2026 09:31:54 +0000 Kyodo Kyodo A Japanese start-up is expanding a “granny business” that turns seniors’ lifetime skills into paid work through cafes, food stalls and community festivals, placing elderly women – including those with dementia – at the centre of local economies. Based in the Fukuoka prefecture city of Ukiha, Ukiha no Takara, or Ukiha’s Treasure, draws on cooking, hospitality and fashion skills accumulated over decades, offering paid employment rather than volunteer roles. The initiative aims to reduce isolation... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3341922/japanese-grannies-are-back-business-start-where-age-just-number?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3341922/japanese-grannies-are-back-business-start-where-age-just-number?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 31 Jan 2026 04:00:51 +0000 dpa dpa Ageing has arguably always been a puzzle. There is the 82-year-old part-time farmer down the road who remains light on his feet, while his 60-something accountant neighbour gets short of breath walking from car to office. According ‍to a team of scientists at Vanderbilt University in the US state of Tennessee, “superagers” such as the farmer could have an innate advantage over the prematurely old, at least when it comes to cognition. According to the university, those in their 80s with brain... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3341500/how-do-superagers-stay-so-young-genes-can-play-key-role-study-suggests?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3341500/how-do-superagers-stay-so-young-genes-can-play-key-role-study-suggests?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 28 Jan 2026 08:15:07 +0000 Agence France-Presse,Associated Press Agence France-Presse,Associated Press Spain’s government announced on Tuesday it will grant legal status to potentially hundreds of thousands of immigrants living and working in the country without authorisation, the latest example of how the country has bucked a trend towards increasingly harsh immigration policies championed by US President Donald Trump and seen across much of Europe. Migration Minister Elma Saiz said the beneficiaries would be able to work “in any sector, in any part of the country”, and extolled “the positive... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3341453/spain-buck-trump-trend-and-legalise-thousands-migrants?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3341453/spain-buck-trump-trend-and-legalise-thousands-migrants?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 27 Jan 2026 13:54:49 +0000 Tribune News Service Tribune News Service In a retirement home in Dallas, Texas, Theresa Steward is skydiving. The 74-year-old American squeals and yelps as the ground rushes up and snow-capped mountains slide past. Her body lurches forward, and she grabs at the air to steady herself. After landing safely, she appears relieved but exhilarated. Steward’s experience was conducted in virtual reality (VR), with a headset that took her on a wild adventure from indoors. “I’m glad I experienced that because I never would do skydiving,” Steward... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3341258/how-vr-experiences-can-help-elderly-people-boost-their-mental-health-and-battle-loneliness?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3341258/how-vr-experiences-can-help-elderly-people-boost-their-mental-health-and-battle-loneliness?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 26 Jan 2026 23:15:08 +0000 Anthea Rowan Anthea Rowan This is the 81st instalment in a series on dementia, including the research into its causes and treatment, advice for carers, and stories of hope. My mother often used to wonder whether she was on a ship. As we gazed across the lawn at home, she would ask, “Am I on a ship?” Sometimes it was her first question when she woke in the morning. “Is this my cabin?” she would ask as she looked around her. “I used to share it with somebody. I wonder where she’s gone.” Or: “Will we dock soon?” I used to... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3340853/when-dementia-makes-finding-right-words-hard-what-carers-need-know?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3340853/when-dementia-makes-finding-right-words-hard-what-carers-need-know?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 26 Jan 2026 09:15:16 +0000 Paul Yip Paul Yip Mainland China’s and Hong Kong’s birth rates fell to record lows last year, despite extensive government incentives to encourage larger families. In Hong Kong, registered births fell 14 per cent to a historic low of 31,714 in 2025. Notably, the increase in births in 2024 may have been due to the auspicious Year of the Dragon. It is believed that babies born in the dragon year will grow up to be smart and successful. This is likely to have affected the timing of births as seen in Hong Kong during... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3341016/hong-kong-must-tackle-challenges-super-aged-society-head?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3341016/hong-kong-must-tackle-challenges-super-aged-society-head?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 25 Jan 2026 01:30:08 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial Incentives aimed at reversing a falling birth rate seem like a sensible investment for an ageing society. Hong Kong is no exception, with initiatives ranging from a cash handout to family-friendly policies. But an upward trend in the city’s birth registrations in 2023 and 2024 has proved short-lived and attributable to one-off factors. The year 2023 was the first after the social distancing and uncertainties of the pandemic. Then 2024 was the Year of the Dragon, deemed auspicious for having... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3340991/hong-kongs-daunting-task-become-baby-friendly-city?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3340991/hong-kongs-daunting-task-become-baby-friendly-city?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 24 Jan 2026 23:15:12 +0000 Theodora Yu Theodora Yu Hong Kong authorities should step up support for elderly residents at risk of suicide across all social classes, analysts have said, after a 73-year-old woman was arrested on Thursday on suspicion of murdering her husband in a hotel before taking sleeping pills and losing consciousness. They added that officials should broaden efforts to educate frontline workers on identifying socially isolated elderly people – those who lack connections to social services or resources – and refer them to... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3341056/hong-kong-urged-boost-support-risk-elders-across-all-social-classes?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3341056/hong-kong-urged-boost-support-risk-elders-across-all-social-classes?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 23 Jan 2026 13:59:23 +0000 Shi Huang Shi Huang Neurologist Sun Bomin’s mother led him to believe that Alzheimer’s disease might not be incurable after all. On January 21, Sun released a short video on China’s Yitiao.tv platform and an article detailing what he said was the world’s first effective treatment of Alzheimer’s disease using the high-intensity FUS procedure. His mother, who appeared in the video but was not named, is aged in her nineties and had been suffering from the progressive brain disorder for around eight years. According to... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3340862/mothers-mind-appears-restored-might-ultrasound-be-cure-alzheimers?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3340862/mothers-mind-appears-restored-might-ultrasound-be-cure-alzheimers?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 23 Jan 2026 01:00:12 +0000 Lo Hoi-ying Lo Hoi-ying Having children is a “good investment” in one’s happiness, Elon Musk’s mother has said at a Hong Kong event on fertility, encouraging more women to start families and saying they do not have to sacrifice their careers. Dietitian and model Maye Musk also said one of her greatest fears was that her 18 grandchildren would not have friends if people stopped giving birth. “Babies are the most wonderful things in your life,” the 77-year-old said at the Global Fertility Crisis Forum, which was... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3340879/elon-musks-mother-reveals-hopes-fears-future-hong-kong-fertility-forum?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3340879/elon-musks-mother-reveals-hopes-fears-future-hong-kong-fertility-forum?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 22 Jan 2026 12:49:11 +0000 Anthea Rowan Anthea Rowan It is hard to know whether to be more impressed by octogenarians Bob and Fran German because they regularly publish videos on their YouTube channel, or because, at 85, they remain ultra-fit and young at heart. That was not always the case. Years ago, both were diagnosed with life-changing illnesses. After returning home to the United States from a trip to China in late 1992, Fran sensed minor muscular changes but “didn’t think too much of it”. Then, one day, she woke up and could not open one... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3340522/how-whole-food-plant-based-diet-keeps-85-year-old-youtubers-young-and-disease-free?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3340522/how-whole-food-plant-based-diet-keeps-85-year-old-youtubers-young-and-disease-free?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 21 Jan 2026 03:00:16 +0000 Julian Ryall Julian Ryall A generation ago, the people of Okinawa in Japan were recognised as among the longest-lived in the world, fortunate residents of one of just five “blue zones” around the planet where a combination of healthy diet, lifestyle and positive attitude enabled them to live to a ripe old age. Today, that longevity has been turned on its head. Life expectancy for both Okinawan men and women is expected to tumble again when the results of a new study, conducted every five years, are released in the coming... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/health-environment/article/3340577/japans-okinawa-loses-longevity-crown-slow-living-makes-way-faster-shorter-future?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/health-environment/article/3340577/japans-okinawa-loses-longevity-crown-slow-living-makes-way-faster-shorter-future?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 21 Jan 2026 01:30:16 +0000