The Elderly Woman Didn’t Want to Leave After A One-week Trial Stay At The Jockey Club Zhaoqing Care Home

Guangdong Residential Care Service Scheme The scheme was launched on a trial basis in June 2014. The Social Welfare Department began purchasing residential care services from two facilities: Hong Kong Jockey Club Shenzhen Rehabilitation Center Yikang Home and Hong Kong Jockey Club Helping Hand Zhaoqing Care and Attention Home for the Elderly. These two homes are located in Guangdong Province, and the arrangement allows Hong Kong elderly residents—who are waiting for subsidised care-and-attention home placements in Hong Kong—to apply for admission to these facilities in Guangdong. As of the end of June this year, a total of 127 elderly people from Hong Kong had used the service.

To encourage more elderly people to retire in mainland China, the Social Welfare Department announced last month that the scheme would be expanded. This expansion means that elderly persons on the Central Waiting List for subsidized nursing home places are now also eligible to apply. In addition, operators with a proven track record in providing subsidized elderly care services in Hong Kong—and who currently run elderly care homes in cities across the Greater Bay Area—are eligible to apply to have their Greater Bay Area care homes included as recognized service providers under the scheme. These institutions can then receive qualified elderly residents from Hong Kong.

A journalist from Hong Kong Wen Wei Po recently traveled from West Kowloon via high-speed rail to Guangzhou South Station, then took a taxi to Baitu Town in Zhaoqing. After a 2.5-hour journey, they arrived at the pilot facility under the scheme—the Hong Kong Jockey Club Helping Hand Zhaoqing Care and Attention Home for the Elderly. Upon arrival, the sight was striking: several large buildings surrounded by palm trees, creating a setting that felt worlds apart from typical elderly homes in Hong Kong—more like entering a large holiday resort. Inside the main building, the ground floor revealed a spacious green garden. At that moment, over a dozen elderly residents were exercising in one activity room, while in another, eight seniors were split between two tables playing mahjong.

Total of 260 Residential Places   Resident Doctor On-site

The care home offers a total of 260 residential places, with a variety of room types including single, double, and four-person rooms. Residents are provided with daily living, dining, and personal care services. In addition to standard care, the home features special care units for elderly residents with cognitive impairments, such as dementia. The facility has an on-site resident doctor, and is also partnered with a Grade A hospital—Gaoyao People's Hospital in the city. If needed, elderly residents can be immediately transferred for treatment without having to pay consultation fees upfront.

Several Hong Kong elderly residents interviewed by Hong Kong Wen Wei Po spoke highly of the care home. Mr. Yeung Siu-ping, aged 90, moved from Guangzhou to Hong Kong in the 1950s. More than three years ago, he fell at home in Hong Kong. Due to his age and the difficulty his family faced in taking care of him, he chose to retire in mainland China. He shared "In Hong Kong, having my daughter and son-in-law look after me made me feel uneasy, so I decided to live here instead. I’ve never seen such beautiful flowers, plants, and trees before. Everyone here shows great care for the elderly!"

Ms. Wu Lok-hing, aged 92, previously lived alone in a public housing unit in Tsz Wan Shan, while her daughter and son-in-law resided in Tuen Mun. She shared “It was such a hassle having to buy groceries by myself, and I really didn’t want to live alone. So in 2018, I moved into this care home through the relocation program. I had volunteered in elderly homes in Hong Kong before, and the environment there was very cramped and quite unsatisfactory. It also cost HK$4,000 a month—my pension couldn’t even cover that! That’s why I chose to move north. She also revealed that she had a one-week trial stay before moving in officially, and since then, she’s never wanted to leave “There’s so much space here, even the walking routes are organised. The air is fresher than in Hong Kong, and I had no trouble adjusting at all. I honestly don’t want to go back to Hong Kong now.”

Taking A Walk, Feeding Fish And Goats — Just Like That, A Joyful Day Goes By.

Aside from the lovely surroundings, a group of elderly friends get to enjoy the pleasures of rural life—an experience vastly different from the cramped and lonely life many live alone in Hong Kong. “Sometimes in Hong Kong, I felt so lonely living alone. But since coming here, I sometimes take a walk and feed the fish on my own, and other times I join a group of volunteers to feed the goats. Just like that, the day passes happily!” Mr. Lai Siu-long, aged 87, once shared a subdivided flat in Tai Kok Tsui with several friends and relied on government assistance to make ends meet. Life was difficult. His family lives in Nanhai, Guangdong, and through a relocation program, he moved into the elderly care home in Zhaoqing. It’s convenient for his family to visit, and he himself is now able to enjoy his twilight years in peace.  

Mainland China Has Lower Costs And A More Adequate Staffing Setup

As more Hong Kong residents choose to retire in mainland China, it's clear the lifestyles and operating models between the two regions differ. Ms. Connie Chu, Chief Operating Officer of Helping Hand, shared insights in an interview with Hong Kong Wen Wei Po for those considering joining the relocation program: “Both Hong Kong and mainland China face similar challenges—shortages in caregiving staff and difficulties in recruitment. However, one key difference is that Hong Kong caregivers receive more comprehensive pre-employment training, whereas in mainland China, most training happens on the job.” She added that mainland elderly care homes operate with relatively lower costs and have more flexible staffing setups: “For example, there are often more chefs available. After preparing dim sum, they can even set up a tea house in the spacious areas of the care home.” It’s fascinating how resource allocation and cultural elements blend differently on either side of the border. Would you like me to help pull these insights into a comparative analysis or visual timeline?

Connie Chu supports expanding the Guangdong Residential Care Services Scheme, saying “With more organizations participating, we can all make greater progress—such as jointly establishing training standards and enhancing service quality. The challenge of an aging population is something we must confront together.” She emphasized that if elderly individuals are healthy and properly cared for, there's often no need for them to enter residential care homes. Therefore, the Hong Kong SAR Government should offer special support to care homes, especially in areas like dementia care. She added “ultimately, aging in place is the best arrangement for elderly people; entering a care home should only be the final step. Care homes ought to focus their efforts on supporting elderly residents with high medical needs.”

Adopting International Rating Standards—Operators Will Need Time To Adapt.

It suggests that transitioning to globally recognized assessment criteria may pose challenges for local service providers, and they’ll require a period of adjustment to meet those new benchmarks.

Connie Chu pointed out that the Social Welfare Department applies international rating standards to care homes participating in the scheme, which are even more detailed than the current Service Quality Standards (SQS). “These standards are like the ‘Q Mark’—I believe operators in Hong Kong will need time to explore and adapt.” She expressed hope that in the future, other Hong Kong-run facilities in the Greater Bay Area that serve Hong Kong residents will also adopt these international benchmarks. “The most important thing is to ensure that elderly people from Hong Kong and their families understand that these care homes provide guaranteed quality, giving them confidence and peace of mind.”

Currently, the care home houses around 90 elderly residents, including 27 from Hong Kong. Connie Chu explained that at its peak, the facility accommodated about 130 residents. However, due to local government measures during the COVID-19 pandemic, the home was temporarily required to implement a "no entry, only exit" policy—meaning it had to suspend the admission of new residents.

Elderly People Are Most Concerned About Medical Issues, And The Pandemic Now Presents A Turning Point

She pointed out that most of the elderly Hong Kong residents living in the care home have relatives residing in areas such as Zhaoqing, Yunfu, and Guangzhou. “Distance is an important factor—since it’s quite a long journey for family members travelling from Hong Kong, most of the elderly who choose to live here tend to have relatives nearby in this region.”

Hong Kong has a fast-paced lifestyle, whereas Zhaoqing is much slower and more relaxed. Connie Chu reminded elderly residents from Hong Kong to be mentally prepared for this change. The care home arranges for new residents to stay a few days in a “welcome wing” to get a feel for the environment. They even encourage family members to stay alongside their elderly relatives for a few days before deciding whether to move in permanently.

Connie Chu admitted that medical care remains the top concern for elderly Hong Kong residents. However, the pandemic brought about change and new opportunities. “Before COVID, many elderly residents had to endure long journeys back to Hong Kong to see doctors and obtain medication prescribed by the Hospital Authority. But in reality, the medication is the same as that used in mainland China—only the brand differs.” During the pandemic, the care home worked with the Federation of Trade Unions to deliver medication from Hong Kong. Later, during the height of the outbreak, many residents switched to mainland-made medication. “After trying it and finding no issues, they continued using it.”

Propose That More Top-tier Mainland Hospitals Accept Hong Kong's Medical Vouchers

She believes that as transportation infrastructure in the Greater Bay Area continues to develop, more elderly residents from Hong Kong will choose to retire in mainland China. “If the coverage of Hong Kong's medical vouchers is extended to include more top-tier hospitals in the mainland, it will greatly benefit and facilitate care for more Hong Kong elders.”

Scheduled Shuttle Service To And From The Urban Area

Ng Sheung-wai, advisor to the Zhaoqing Elderly Care and Rehabilitation Home, is regarded as the “father” who helped build the facility from the ground up. Over twenty years ago, he had already anticipated that society would face ageing population challenges. “In the past, so-called elderly care facilities were just a few people living together in a house. What if eldercare was provided by an organisation—how would that look?” In an interview with Hong Kong Wen Wei Po, he noted that the strategic planning by the Helping Hand Association was highly accurate. He personally assisted in selecting the location and worked with the Hong Kong SAR Government to coordinate the project—eventually leading to the establishment of the Zhaoqing Elderly Care and Rehabilitation Home. Ng served as the facility’s director from its founding until his transition to an advisory role in 2016.

Having witnessed the care home’s growth over the years, Ng Sheung-wai couldn’t hide his excitement: “Care homes in Hong Kong are often too cramped, but here, it’s much more spacious. Some elderly residents who transferred from Hong Kong care homes have lived here for more than ten years. They say this place is large, has a beautiful environment, and provides excellent services.” He added that many residents have lived there for over a decade—the oldest is now 106 years old—and confessed, “I’m truly attached to them and to this care home!”

He noted that elderly residents from Hong Kong rarely face adaptation issues after moving into the care home. “The facility is spacious with plenty of activity areas. We offer calligraphy, singing, lawn bowling, and mahjong sessions. And within a 100-kilometre radius, there are so many attractions—typically, we take the elderly to the urban centre twice a week.” However, he candidly shared that some long-term Hong Kong residents, especially during the pandemic when outings were limited, do feel nostalgic for their home city. “Elderly people in Hong Kong care homes can easily step out for dim sum or visit the market. But since this facility is located in a suburban area, going out for food isn't as convenient.” To ease this, he said, “We provide scheduled shuttle services to and from the city to support elderly residents in going out.”

When asked about memorable moments, he shared that some family members were extremely anxious about their elderly relatives living in the care home. “If their health showed even the slightest issue, they wanted them to return to Hong Kong immediately.” However, he emphasised that although it’s admittedly less convenient than being in Hong Kong, “In terms of medical care, there are absolutely no problems. In emergency situations, residents can be sent to the Gaoyao People’s Hospital in just 20 minutes, and that hospital offers multiple specialised departments.”

Expansion Measures For The Guangdong Residential Care Service Scheme 

1.   Extended to benefit the following elderly individuals

◆  Elderly individuals waiting for subsidized care and residential places in elderly homes

◆  Elderly individuals waiting for subsidized nursing home places

2. Open for application by the following service providers

◆ Organizations in Hong Kong with experience in providing subsidized residential care services for the elderly and with a good track record

◆ Operators running elderly homes in Mainland cities of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area

3. Introduction to the Scheme

◆ Upon successful application, the government will subsidise eligible elderly individuals to live in approved service institutions through a 'contracting' or 'place-purchase' arrangement

Government Subsidies Include The Following Areas:

1. Accommodation in shared rooms

2. At least three meals a day, plus snacks

3. 24-hour care and nursing services

4. Formulate and implement an individual care plan for each elderly person

5. At least two rehabilitation exercise sessions per week, conducted individually or in small groups

6. At least once per month, health check-ups, general medical consultations, and designated prescription medications are provided by a doctor arranged through an approved service provider

7. Escort and inpatient accompaniment services, including transportation and accompanying elderly individuals to designated hospitals and clinics for medical consultations, as well as staying with them during inpatient treatment

8. Counseling, development/support/therapy groups, and regular social and recreational activities

9. Laundry services

All costs for basic accommodation, nursing care, personal assistance, and rehabilitation services for eligible elderly individuals are fully covered.