Ageing in a Gilded Cage

As Oscar Chan, a retired civil servant in his late 60s, gazes out the window of his apartment in Ma On Shan, a sprawling town in Hong Kong’s New Territories, he can’t help but feel a sense of unease. Like many of his contemporaries, Oscar and his wife Stella are facing an uncomfortable reality: their golden years are rapidly turning into a series of difficult choices about where to live, and how to receive care. For this couple, the conventional wisdom that a residential care home is the answer to their ageing woes is not only unappealing, but also increasingly unaffordable.

The Chan’s dilemma is not unique to Hong Kong. As populations around the world age, the pressure on social care systems is mounting. In Singapore, for instance, the government has been grappling with a similar challenge, and has developed a model that is gaining international attention: Kampung Admiralty. This innovative approach to ageing combines residential care with community spaces, including a community garden, a supermarket, and even a medical centre. But will it be a solution that Hong Kong can emulate?

Singapore’s Kampung Admiralty is a 12-storey building that offers a range of housing options, from studio apartments to three-bedroom units, as well as a range of care services. Residents can choose from a menu of options, from meal delivery to home care visits, depending on their needs. The building is designed to promote a sense of community, with shared spaces and activities that encourage social interaction. According to officials, Kampung Admiralty is a response to the growing demand for senior housing in Singapore, where the population is ageing rapidly. By 2030, one in five Singaporeans is expected to be aged 65 or above.

A Care Home Conundrum

For Oscar and Stella Chan, the idea of moving into a residential care home is unappealing. While they acknowledge that ageing at home is not always “as straightforward as it sounds”, they believe that conventional care homes can “feel restrictive”. They are not alone in their reluctance to surrender their independence and autonomy. Across the globe, there is growing recognition that traditional care homes are not meeting the needs of an ageing population. In many cases, these institutions are seen as institutional, rather than community-based, and often fail to provide the kind of social interaction and support that older people need.

In Hong Kong, the problem is compounded by a severe shortage of suitable housing for older people. The city’s population is ageing rapidly, and the demand for residential care is outstripping supply. According to official estimates, there will be a shortfall of over 20,000 care home places by 2035. Meanwhile, the cost of care is skyrocketing, with many families struggling to afford the fees. The Chan’s are not alone in their financial anxiety: many families in Hong Kong are forced to dip into their savings, or rely on family members to provide care.

A Singaporean Solution?

So what can Hong Kong learn from Singapore’s Kampung Admiralty? On the surface, the model appears to offer a number of advantages over traditional care homes. By providing a range of housing options, and a range of care services, Kampung Admiralty seems to offer a more flexible and responsive approach to ageing. The building’s design, which prioritizes community spaces and social interaction, also seems to address some of the key criticisms of traditional care homes.

But there are also significant challenges and uncertainties associated with this model. One of the key concerns is cost: building a Kampung Admiralty-style complex would require significant investment, and would likely be beyond the reach of many families. Additionally, there are questions about the scalability of this model: can it be replicated in other cities, or would it require a significant overhaul of existing social care systems?

International Perspectives

As the world grapples with the challenges of ageing, there is a growing recognition that traditional care home models are not the answer. In many countries, including the United States, Canada, and Australia, there is a growing trend towards community-based care, which prioritizes social interaction and support. In Japan, there is a growing emphasis on “aging in place”, which involves supporting older people to live in their own homes for as long as possible.

These international perspectives offer a range of insights and lessons for Hong Kong. One of the key takeaways is the importance of community-based care: by prioritizing social interaction and support, older people can maintain their independence and autonomy, and avoid the institutional feel of traditional care homes. Another key lesson is the need for flexibility and responsiveness: older people have different needs and preferences, and care systems need to be able to adapt to these demands.

Reactions and Implications

As the Chan’s dilemma highlights, the ageing challenge in Hong Kong is a pressing concern. While the government has acknowledged the need for new solutions, there is still much to be done. The Kampung Admiralty model offers a promising approach, but it is unclear whether it can be scaled up to meet the needs of the city’s ageing population. Meanwhile, families like the Chan’s are facing difficult choices about where to live, and how to receive care.

In response to the ageing challenge, the Hong Kong government has announced plans to increase the number of care home places, and to introduce new funding models to support community-based care. However, these efforts are likely to be insufficient, and the city will need to think more creatively about how to meet the needs of its ageing population.

Forward Looking

As Oscar and Stella Chan look to the future, they are uncertain about what lies ahead. While they hope to remain independent and autonomous, they know that the challenges of ageing are complex and multifaceted. For Hong Kong, the lesson of the Chan’s dilemma is clear: the city needs to think more creatively about how to meet the needs of its ageing population. By prioritizing community-based care, and by investing in innovative solutions like Kampung Admiralty, the government can help to ensure that older people like the Chan’s can live with dignity and independence, in their own communities.