Care by residential care homes for elderly persons

Overview of residential care homes for elderly persons in Hong Kong

In Hong Kong, the Residential Care Homes (Elderly Persons) Ordinance (Cap. 459) regulates homes established for the residential care of persons who have reached the age of 60. Any premises which regularly house more than five persons who are at least 60 years old for the purpose of care while habitually resident there are regarded as a residential care home.

Residential care homes in Hong Kong are run by both the private sector and non-governmental organizations.

According to data released by the Hong Kong Government, as of 31stOctober 2010, there were 755 residential care homes in Hong Kong, of which 579 were private, 37 self-financing, and 139 subvented or contract residential care homes. These residential care homes offered 72,502 places in total, serving about 57,200 seniors in Hong Kong.