Innovative Elderly Housing

To Age at Choice among Housing Options
When people grow old, most of them would like to live at a familiar environment they prefer. Aging in place (AIP) is not only a guiding policy of the Hong Kong Government, but also a common aspiration of older people. As the only housing provider of elderly housing in Hong Kong, Hong Kong Housing Society has provided various kind of housing options for older people to help them age in place. Public education to raise the awareness of AIP is also provided by its Elderly Resources Centre. Mr Cheung will elaborate on the current choices of elderly housing for AIP and share his view on the outlook in the medium term.
Inter-generational Co-residence Aspiration and Reality in Compact Hong Kong: What are the constraints?
It is generally known that inter-generational co-residence is affected by cultural, demographic, social and economic factors. Less explored are the factors of housing and living conditions. Even less known are how the socio-economic and built environment factors interact to influence the aspiration and the reality of inter-generational co-residence of the elderly people and their adult children. Based on a questionnaire survey of 5000 samples sourced from all districts in Hong Kong, focus group discussions, site visits to housing estates, and statistical analyses, this presentation explores the determinants of co-residence in Hong Kong, a city characterized by high-density, high-rise, high-housing price but low-housing-space standards. It will particularly examine how housing circumstances and subsidized housing policy influence and restrain the co-residence aspiration and decision of the elderly and their children of different socio-economic and demographic features. In interpreting the statistical analysis results, trends of housing culture, impact of housing policy, and neighbourhood conditions will be considered to provide a fuller understanding of the constraints of co-residence in compact Hong Kong.

Panelists

Dr Moon-wah CHEUNG

General Manager of Elderly Services, Hong Kong Housing Society

Dr Moon-wah CHEUNG is the General Manager of Elderly Services in the Hong Kong Housing Society responsible for developing and operating senior housing and skilled care services. As a registered social worker with a doctoral degree in business administration, Dr Cheung has devoted to elderly services for more than 30 years and has served a number of public duties. Currently he is member of the Working Group on Elder Abuse and member of the Project Steering Group of Project on Enhancement of the Infrastructure of Long Term Care in Hong Kong of the Social Welfare Department. Dr Cheung is also the Chairman of the Advisory Committee of Department of Applied Social Science of the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Advisory Committee member of the Age-friendly City Project sponsored by the Hong Kong Jockey Club and Committee member on Management and Operation of Lam Tei Elderly Home, Pok Oi Hospital.

Prof Rebecca CHIU

Head of Department of Urban Planning and Design and Director of the Centre of Urban Studies and Urban Planning, University of Hong Kong

Prof Chiu is Head and Professor of the Department of Urban Planning and Design, and the Director of the Centre of Urban Studies and Urban Planning of The University of Hong Kong. Her research interests include urban and housing sustainability, comparative housing and planning policies; ageing communities and urban management in the Belt and Road region. Prof Chiu has been member of various government boards including housing, planning, urban renewal, natural and heritage conservation.

Panel Host

Prof Terry Lum

Head of Department of Social Work and Social Administration, University of Hong Kong

Prof Terry Lum is the Head of Department of Social Work and Social Administration and the Henry G Leong Professor of Social Work and Social Administration at the University of Hong Kong. His research focuses on elderly policy and services. His research findings have shaped the development of long term care policy in both the United States and Hong Kong.