Perceptions of the elderly on ageing in place in Hong Kong

Background To serve the diverse needs of the ageing population, the Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region has made ‘Care for the Elderly’ a strategic policy objective of the government since 1997. The objective of the policy is to improve the quality of life of our elderly population and provide them with a sense of security, a sense of belonging and a feeling of health and worth. ‘Ageing in place’ has been government policy since 2003. However, no studies have been conducted in Hong Kong to investigate how the elderly perceive the policy and practice of ageing in place. This qualitative exploratory study investigated the understanding, attitudes and concerns of elderly people in Hong Kong towards ageing in place. The results provide valuable information for the Hong Kong government to develop appropriate measures to facilitate the provision of ageing in place as the core policy, with institutional care as a back-up.