Long-term care policy for elders in Hong Kong.

The context in which aged care policy is being developed in Hong Kong is characterized not only by rapid demographic aging and social change, but also by new political and administrative systems being built on a colonial legacy. This article begins with a description of the demographic profile and trends in population aging, noting particular differences in marriage and family formation that differentiate Hong Kong from other developed countries and that also show marked changes between generations. While past social policies can be credited with contributing to the achievement of high life expectancy in Hong Kong, these policies were unevenly developed, with little provision for income security in old age or for long-term care. Both issues have come to the fore in policy development in recent years, culminating in the formation of the Elderly Commission in 1997 and revitalizing the level of attention given to developing community care. A clear policy agenda has been drawn up to promote the development of a long-term care system, addressing issues of integration; role differentiation for assessment and service provision, including new contractual arrangements; quality assurance; and financing. The political and administrative changes are seen to present opportunities for containing residential care and forging a care system founded on community services.