Hong Kong Elderly Home Care Service Needs Survey: What is the Most Important Service for 70% of Families?

As Hong Kong's population ages rapidly, "aging in place" has become the preferred choice for many families. To gain a deeper understanding of market needs, a recent survey on the demand for elderly home care services in Hong Kong revealed a key finding: a significant 70% of surveyed families rated "personal care services" as their most important and urgently needed service. This result clearly indicates the development focus for elderly care services in Hong Kong and the important direction for providers in enhancing the quality of nursing care.

Why is "Personal Care" the Core Need?

The survey shows that when family caregivers face the daily lives of elderly relatives, the greatest stress does not come from financial burden, but from physical and mental exhaustion. Many elderly individuals, due to mobility issues or chronic illnesses, require assistance with basic daily activities, which is precisely the core value of personal care services.

These services typically include:

• Bathing and Oral Hygiene: Ensuring personal hygiene for the elderly, preventing skin diseases and infections.

• Feeding Assistance and Nutritional Support: Helping elderly with swallowing difficulties to eat safely and maintain adequate nutrition.

• Lifting and Repositioning Techniques: Using professional methods to assist the elderly in getting in and out of bed or wheelchairs, ensuring safety for both parties.

• Rehabilitative Exercises: Simple passive movements to maintain muscle function and joint mobility.

  
  

For children of the elderly, these professional caregivers not only share the physically demanding work but, more importantly, provide the "peace of mind" they deeply desire. Surveyed family members stated that having trained personnel handle these intimate yet challenging tasks significantly reduces their caregiving pressure and prevents injuries to the elderly due to a lack of skill.

Beyond Basic Care: Key Elements of Quality Service

The survey further found that when families choose home care services, besides the core item of "personal care," they also highly value the following:

1. Professionalism and Compassion of Staff: Whether the caregivers possess recognized qualifications, patience, and empathy is crucial in determining service quality.

2. Service Flexibility and Adaptability: The ability to adjust service times and content based on changes in the elderly's physical condition is more aligned with the practical needs of families.

3. Emergency Support System: Providing a 24-hour inquiry or support hotline allows families to receive immediate guidance during emergencies, which is especially important for families with elderly living alone.

Conclusion: Upgrading from "Having Services" to "Having Good Services"

This survey on elderly home care needs in Hong Kong clearly shows that market demand has evolved from simply "having services available" to pursuing "high-quality, professional personal care." For families currently searching for elderly care solutions, this survey serves as an important reference. For social welfare organizations and the elderly care service industry, it is a clear signal: investing in the professional training of frontline caregivers and building high-quality home-based elderly care services centered around "personal care" will be the key to future success. This approach can also truly realize the vision of "aging in place," allowing the elderly to spend their later years with dignity and safety in a familiar environment.