In Asia, Hong Kong has the highest percentage (6.8%) of old people living in institutional elderly homes.  Despite the fact that most old people prefer to spend their remaining years with their family members and stay in the familiar community, they would chose going to elderly homes only when their health condition is so weak that family members could not take care of them, or they cannot take care of themselves if they are living independently.

The government officials often say that their policy is to support old people to stay in the community. However, most of resources on elderly care have been allocated to elderly homes rather than community care. According to the Consultancy Study on Community Care Service (2011) done by the Department of Social Work and Social Administration, University of Hong Kong, there is serious imbalance of resource allocation to elderly home care service and community care service, in the ratio of 7 to 1.

It is unlikely to see a major change in the allocation of resources to institutional elderly homes and community care. But some NGOs and social entrepreneurs are looking for ways to support old people to stay in the community. The first step is to ensure that home is a safe place for old people. Because more than half of the fall accidents of old people happened in their own homes.

Last year, five young people with background in interior design and construction had set up a social enterprise called Longevity Design House (長屋設計). This social enterprise uses building materials left over in construction sites and uses them to renovate homes for old people, especially for those who have financial difficulties, This is a win-win idea that help to reduce wastage and save cost for renovation. Longevity Design House has received support from different sectors of the society. For example, the Culture Home (文化村), an operator of a chain of hotels and elderly homes, provides low rental rates for the customers of Longevity Design House during he renovation period.

To promote the concept of Age-friendly Home, the Housing Society set up an Elderly Resources Centre (ERC) back in 2001. This centre has social workers and occupational therapists who can assist family members and social service providers to make the living environment more suitable for older people.

There is a video about the Elderly Resources Centre