A Comprehensive Study on the Housing Needs of the Elderly in Hong Kong Commissionedby The Hong Kong Housing Society The HKU Research Team

Quality with Choice

Dignity Aging in place Continuum of care Community care Choice Affordability Adaptability Convenience Amenity Safety and security Accessibility & mobility Visitability Guiding Principles

Housing ‘Housing with Care’ is the integration of 3 aspects: Accommodation Health services Support services

Integrated ‘Housing with Care’ Model High-income group Medium-income group Low-income group health service community social support Housing Society & NGOs Private developers Government Health services Support services Accommodation

Methodology Extensive documentary review Telephone surveys Focus group discussions Key informant interviews International comparative study Local and overseas site visits Analyses of secondary data

The Current Situation Government plays a significant role in provision of housing, health services & support services Lack of variety of housing products for different income groups of elders Service gap in care and support services to facilitate community living Architectural design & community facilities not suitable for elders to age in place

Projections Projected housing supply for the elderly can meet the projected demand (in quantity term) ( ) demand 19,963 – 20,040 PRH supply There is room for improvement in the provision of housing with integrated care & support services There should be a paradigm shift to ‘Quality with Choice’

General Recommendations to the Government, private developers and social service agencies 1: Provision of adequate public rental housing (PRH) may be continued to meet the needs of both low-income elderly tenants and homeowners 2: Provision of rental assistance may be resumed to give ‘Choice’ to low- income elderly people not catered by PRH provision

3: Existing flats of elderly households may be renovated to ‘Universal Design’ 4: ‘Housing with Care’ may be the model concept for housing for elderly people with different affordability

5: ‘Mixed Financing Mode’ may need to be explored in the provision of care and support services to elderly citizens of different income groups 6: Feasibility of ‘Mixed Development’ may need to be explored to lower the cost

7: ‘Serviced Apartments’ for elderly people who are unable or unwilling to pay initial lump sum may be developed 8: Short-term residential care services/‘Respite Services’ may need to be further developed to bridge the gap between community living and residential care living

9: Residential care services for elderly people may need to be developed towards Long-Term Care Insurance and/or ‘Cash Subsidy’ (voucher) system 10: ‘Reverse Mortgage’, ‘Trading Down’ and other financial arrangements for low/medium income elderly homeowners may need to be jointly studied by the government, the financial institutions, NGOs, private developers and the academics

11: ‘Resource Centers’ may need to be set up under the collaboration made between the government, service providers and various housing providers

Recommendations on Cross-Border Housing 12: The government, the private developers and relevant organizations may need to watch closely the potential market of cross border housing for the retiree and soon-to- be-old vacationers and take timely, appropriate action

Recommendations to the Housing Society 13: The Hong Kong Housing Society may continue to capitalize the Senior Citizen Residents Scheme (SEN) and explore alternative modes of elderly ‘Housing with Care’ developments 14: The Hong Kong Housing Society may explore the feasibility of ‘Long-Term Care Insurance’ to financially supplement the ‘Housing with Care’ provision

15: The Hong Kong Housing Society may explore developing ‘Serviced Apartment’ and ‘Respite Services’ for short-stay residents 16: The Hong Kong Housing Society may promote renovation of existing rental flats and for-sale flats with elderly households to ‘Universal Design’