The global increase of the old age has led caring services for the elders to become an important agenda in the social welfare scheme worldwide.

At present, elderly home care service in Mainland China is at its exploring stage. The lack of related human resources is significant even amidst major cities such as Shanghai. Areas such as the service scheme, the working process and service management require much development and refinement. Practitioners are eager to look for opportunities to get exposed and to learn from likewise matured service schemes around.

In February, a study group comprised of 8 practitioners from the government Bureau, together with non-government and private elderly home care service providers from Shanghai visited Hong Kong SAR. HKCS exchanged and shared our experience as a provider of elderly home care service. We shared on service rationale, guidelines and the hindrance on long-term development of the service in both places. They also visited our Integrated Home Care Service Centre, Day Care Centre for the Elderly and District Elderly Community Centre to get on-site exposure.

They will use their experience in Hong Kong as reference to construct trial models so as to develop a long-term scheme for elderly home care service in Shanghai.