Our Hong Kong Foundation (OHKF) launched its latest policy advocacy report titled “Policy Path to Ageing in Place for Hong Kong: Shaping an Inclusive Housing and Community Landscape”. Ageing in place is closely linked to healthcare costs. Hong Kong faces a “double ageing” challenge, as both its population and building infrastructure are growing older. This creates multiple safety risks. Data from the Department of Health in 2018 shows that 74.5% of accidental injuries among the seniors in Hong Kong were due to falls. To reduce the risk of falls and injuries among the seniors, it is essential to start at the source by promoting home modifications and Inclusive Design to enhance home safety, thereby indirectly lowering healthcare costs. OHKF estimates that implementing these recommendations could reduce annual hospitalisation expenses by at least HK$5.67 billion in 2046, when the senior population is anticipated to account for 36% of the total population.

OHKF proposed six policy recommendations aimed at improving the living environments of Hong Kong’s seniors to promote ageing in place and alleviate long-term healthcare expenditures including : 

1. Creating diverse strategies to facilitate seniors’ access to home modifications; 

2. Promoting the adoption of Inclusive Design in new housing; 

3. Establishing favourable market conditions for private senior housing;Enhancing property management capabilities to improve the quality of life for community dwelling seniors; 

4. Enhancing property management capabilities to improve the quality of life for community dwelling seniors; 

5. Optimising community resources and facilities in response to demographic changes; 

6. Enhancing public spaces to promote the age-friendliness of the community