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Senior housing initiatives in Singapore and Australia: Information note
Author/s
Research Office
Abstract
The society of Hong Kong is ageing rapidly, with its share of persons aged 65 or above in local population rising from 15.4% in 2014 to 23.8% in 2024. As this figure is expected to rise further to 40.6% in 2050, Hong Kong will become the oldest society globally by then, surpassing Japan.
Despite this looming trend, senior housing options in the city are limited, primarily relying on residential care homes. Coupled with an uptrend in the number of senior-only households and the policy direction towards “ageing in place”, there is a growing demand for alternative housing solutions tailored for healthier and more independent seniors. In many global places, senior housing with integrated care services is still an emerging concept, and Hong Kong is no exception, with limited private sector involvement in this area so far. There are thus increased suggestions to unleash the potential of the senior housing market by offering incentives to private developers on the one hand, and implement home modifications to make existing housing stock more senior-friendly on the other.
At the request of Hon Stanley LI Sai-wing, the Research Office has studied the development of senior housing in Singapore and Australia, focusing on how they promote independent living with less intensive care. Both the selected places are advanced economies grappling with ageing populations like Hong Kong. More specifically, Singapore has attempted various senior housing models in the public sector, whereas Australia offers insights into private sector development.
This Information Note first introduces senior housing typologies and global design trends, followed by an overview of senior housing in Hong Kong and measures to
support their development. It then delves into pertinent measures in the selected places, focusing on (a) development of new senior-friendly housing; and (b) provision of home modification and care support within existing housing. Key features are encapsulated in the Appendix 1.