- Founder of care home in Jordan has observed how people leave behind their ageing parents when moving away
- Though few youth visit her residents, she emphasises why it is important for the elderly to make connections with younger generations
In 2021, more than 500,000 elderly citizens lived by themselves or with only their spouse for company. Photo: SCMPSoon after a Hong Kong grandmother surnamed Chow* broke her hip while shopping, she admitted herself into a senior home.
“I didn’t want my children to worry about me,” she said. “I didn’t want to be a burden to them.”
Now 96 years old, Chow spends her days in a small, secluded cubicle. For her health and safety, she cannot leave the facility without supervision.
Your Voice: Plight of the elderly in Hong Kong and Singapore
At times, her children come to visit, but they usually check on her over the phone. To pass the time, she plays Candy Crush, reads the newspaper, walks around the building and occasionally chats with other residents.
“Although it was my choice, I can’t say I’m used to being here,” Chow said.
Later, she admitted quietly, “It can be very lonely.”
Problems facing Hong Kong elderly
Chow’s story is far from unique. In 2021, more than 500,000 elderly citizens lived by themselves or with only their spouse for company.
As Hong Kong faces a rapidly ageing population, isolation and mental health issues could become more common among the elderly.
A survey released by the Society for Community Organisation last month found that half of Hong Kong’s lower-income elderly had moderate to severe depression or anxiety. In 2022, a record 44 per cent of suicides involved seniors.
According to the founder of a retirement home in Jordan, the city’s emigration wave was contributing to this issue as some people left their parents behind when moving elsewhere.
Hong Kong must help ageing carers look after elderly, experts say
Hong Kong faced a 0.9 per cent drop in population in 2022 alone, with a net outflow of 60,000 residents.
Chu*, the 74-year-old founder of Pine Valley Home, has seen the impact of emigration on her facility.
“More than half of our seniors came here because their families left Hong Kong,” Chu said, noting that the care home had seen more elderly residents enter in recent years.
“Elderly parents or grandparents can’t really help make money, so many just leave them behind.”
These elders who were left behind struggled socially as they tended to retreat into themselves, Chu said, adding “they often don’t want to talk to others”.
How youth can help
Though social workers sometimes visited elderly residents, Chu said they rarely had chances to spend time with younger generations, adding that volunteers aged 10 to 20 years old were “virtually nonexistent”.
“Perhaps young people find it difficult to communicate with elderly citizens,” she said, noting that different generations might struggle to connect.
To bridge the gap, Chu recommended that teens bring someone older when conversing with elderly people to help create middle ground. She also advised sticking to lighter topics of conversation.
“Ask them about the past,” she said. “Remind them of those nostalgic and carefree times.”
Elderly and young volunteers connect through Habitat for Humanity’s home services
Bernard Ng is a student volunteer who works with the elderly through a charity called Sunshine Action.
“Most of this generation [doesn’t] really have conversations with the elderly,” the 17-year-old said.
“[Most youth] would choose to do something easier instead of having to talk with elderly,” he explained, noting how his peers were more likely to volunteer for “more prominent issues” such as homelessness or wildlife conservation.
Bernard added that youth might harbour misunderstandings about senior citizens, deeming them “boring, stubborn, or overly traditional”. Nevertheless, he emphasised the importance of socialising across generations.
“Facilitating these interactions [is] important for young people to ... be more empathetic,” the teen said.
Chow maintained that many elderly people were interested in connecting with teens: “We oldies like hearing about what goes on nowadays.”
She also stressed the importance of a positive outlook: “We shouldn’t let ourselves turn inward. If we don’t open our hearts and minds, we’ll never be happy.”
The joy of volunteer visits is not lost on Chow: “It’s so nice when people come. It doesn’t matter if they sing, dance, talk or teach us to fold paper.”
“Even if it’s temporary, it cheers us up!” she added. “It means that people care.”
*Full name withheld at interviewee’s request