Older Adults

We are committed to building a society where people of all ages can flourish throughout their later years. Our innovative programmes foster meaningful connections between older adults and the wider community, reducing loneliness and facilitating better ageing at home. We empower carers and enhance community support, all aimed at promoting active, engaging, and purposeful lives for older people.

Promoting active ageing

Hong Kong’s population is ageing at a rapid pace. According to the government’s latest census, it is projected that by 2036, one in three residents will be aged 65 or above. While demographic shifts are often viewed as looming challenges, they also present an opportunity for the city to promote healthy and active ageing.

While ageing is a natural process, we value and strive to improve the quality of life of older people, and we believe this all begins with reshaping how we think, feel and act towards age and ageism.

Guided by this belief, The Hong Kong Jockey Club has worked on developing communities in ways that support the abilities of older people, delivering person-centred integrated care and primary health services, and ensuring access to quality long-term care for those in need.

Enhancing residential care

Dating back to the 1950s, we have recognised the care needs of older adults by funding essential elderly care infrastructure, such as Little Sisters of the Poor St. Mary’s Home for the Aged. This early investment, along with many others over the decades, not only provided essential shelter, but also much needed residential care for the elderly.

To raise the quality of support for the older adults in need, we partnered with the Social Welfare Department to fund the upgrading works for 75 self-care hostels and homes for the aged in 2005, transforming them into fully equipped care and attention homes, enabling sectoral revamp of residential care services in Hong Kong.

Meanwhile, as the government introduce more comprehensive standards following the COVID-19 pandemic, we have brought essential upgrades to care facilities. A major project was to support Chi Lin Care and Attention Home—one of the largest care homes in the city—in overhauling its ventilation, infection control and sustainability infrastructure to ensure its residents’ health, safety and comfort. We have also introduced more advanced monitoring systems and workflows to help nurses and other supporting staff to provide more effective care.

Further extending our impact beyond Hong Kong, we helped establish two residential care homes in Zhaoqing and Shenzhen in 2000 and 2006 respectively, the first two in the Greater Bay Area dedicated for local seniors, providing quality long-term care options for older adults to age in the Mainland.

Comprehensive care to overcome specific challenges in ageing

Ageing is a complex process, and we have been at the forefront of pioneering innovative service models to tackle specific challenges of ageing—by not only addressing immediate needs but also driving transformations in elderly care.

In response to the challenge of dementia, we have focused on setting new standards in care and support for both patients and carers. Since establishing Hong Kong’s very first integrated dementia care centre—Jockey Club Centre for Positive Ageing—in 2000, we have transformed dementia care through its transitional care model that eases patients’ journeys from diagnosis to daily management. Early screenings have enabled timely detection and intervention.

Elderly care must be grounded in compassion and inclusion, and we believe that building sector-wide capacity of sectors involved is the crucial first step. Since 2006, CADENZA: A Jockey Club Initiative for Seniors has fostered academic leadership in gerontology and cultivated an elder-friendly community culture rooted in respect and inclusion. It has also pioneered innovative and sustainable service models that integrate healthcare, social services and community resources to address the evolving needs of seniors.

JC JoyAge aims to help older adults with depression. Through counselling, therapy, innovative group programmes, creative engagement and intergenerational activities, the participants rediscover meaning and bonding. By integrating evidence-based psychological support and mobilising a vast volunteer network, the project proactively supports mental well-being and nurtures resilience.

Bidding farewell with dignity

As we approach life’s final stage, what matters most is a place filled with care, love and dignity. In traditional culture, death is often a less-openly-discussed subject, leaving end-of-life care an overlooked aspect of ageing. For over 40 years, we have worked to change this by supporting hospice care and raising awareness about informed choices.

Through our Jockey Club End-of-Life Community Care Project, we are bridging social and medical collaboration and transforming societal perceptions of end-of-life care. With two end-of-life care models successfully developed—one targeting residential care homes for the elderly and the other focusing on community settings—the project’s success is reflected in Hong Kong’s rise in the Quality of Death and Dying Index from 22nd (out of 40 countries or regions) in 2015 to 9th (out of 81 countries or regions) in 2021.

By partnering closely with the government and key stakeholders, we are fostering a vital shift in society’s attitudes toward death, including paving the way for the government’s passage of the “Advance Decision on Life-sustaining Treatment Bill”. While the bill lays a legal foundation for the future development of end-of-life care services in Hong Kong, the life and death education activities and public campaigns organised through the project also help promote end-of-life care concepts to a wider audience, aiming for a higher level of acceptance. Our vision is to cultivate an environment where terminally ill patients can embrace their final journey with dignity, surrounded by love and honoured by their personal wishes.

Dr Lam Ching-choi, the former Chairman of the Elderly Commission, comments that “ The Jockey Club's involvement in elderly care is well received by society. I believe it will be remembered for its charitable contributions for generations.”

The Jockey Club's involvement in elderly care is well received by society. I believe it will be remembered for its charitable contributions for generations.

Dr Lam Ching-choi, the former Chairman of the Elderly Commission

Building an age-friendly city

Jockey Club Age-friendly City Project was Hong Kong’s first large-scale initiative designed to prepare the city to meet this demographic challenge. It aims to address age-related biases, promote inclusive policies, and encourage cross-sector collaboration. Beyond raising awareness, the project drives practical improvements, such as enhancing accessible public spaces, building social networks to reduce isolation, integrating innovative healthcare and technology services, and supporting policy shifts toward sustainable, age-friendly ecosystems.

Under this project, CUHK Jockey Club Institute of Ageing, along with three other academic institutes, has worked to enhance the city’s age-friendliness. A key initiative is the Hong Kong Elder Quality of Life Index (HKEQOL), which follows the AgeWatch Index framework to assess well-being in later life by examining income security, health status, capability and supportive environments. This has provided valuable insights into the lives of older adults and guides practical improvements for an age-friendly city.

Together in care: Enhancing support for carers

Many older adults rely on the unwavering support of dedicated carers, who are often their spouse or family members. Recognising the significant physical and emotional challenges these carers face, we are committed to enhancing support for them to improve their well-being and, in turn, elevate the quality of care for the older adults they cherish.

Our Jockey Club Carer Space Project is dedicated to supporting carers by establishing 10 carer-centric centres that focused on enhancing their well-being. These centres serve as key access points, connecting them with crucial help and resources. By employing a standardised assessment tool, the project identifies the unique needs of carers, enabling targeted and impactful assistance. Complementing this effort, Jockey Club “Stand-by U” Caregivers Community Support Project provides in-home respite services to alleviate the burden of carers of home-bound elderly. These initiatives create a supportive environment for carers, significantly improving the quality of care for the older adults they support.

With a vision to empower carers to maintain their strength, resilience, and mental well-being, we are dedicated to providing meaningful support throughout their caregiving journey.

The next chapter: A society that ages positively

We embrace the challenges of ageing—just as we have for seven decades. Looking forward, we will continue to support Hong Kong’s older adults. Building on decades of pioneering initiatives, we will prioritise empowering older adults to age at home, supporting carers and reaching out to those who are living alone and in need. Through these efforts, we are further promoting a compassionate, inclusive and age-friendly society.