Active Aging: Policy Framework and Applications to Promote Older Adult Participation in Hong Kong

Ageing Int (2013) 38:2842

DOI 10.1007/s12126-012-9166-z

Cheung-Ming Alfred Chan & Jr-Shiuan Emily Liang

Published online: 5 October 2012# Springer Science+Business Media New York 2012

Abstract The population of Hong Kong will reach its peak of some 8 million by 2029 with older adults encompassing 25 % of the population. In addressing the challenges of the ageing society, the Government in conjunction with its advisory body for ageing policy (i.e. the Elderly Commission) has adopted an active ageing framework to promote older peoples participation in building a sense of security, a sense of belonging, and a feeling of worthiness. The purpose of this paper is therefore, to examine how policy is translated into practice in advancing the well-being as well as enhancing social and civic participation among the elderly. Programs supporting these initiatives, including the (1) Opportunities for the Elderly Project, (2) Elder Academy Scheme, and (3) the Neighborhood Active Aging Project, will be explained and discussed.

Keywords Active ageing . Older adult participation . Opportunities for the elderly. Elderly Academy

The Challenges of Aging in Hong Kong

The population of Hong Kong is continuously growing and aging. In 1981, the total population of Hong Kong was 5.2 million, which increased to 6.7 million in 2001, and7.1 million in 2011 (Census and Statistics Department 2010a, 2011a). Table 1 shows that the population of Hong Kong remain on an aging trend, with both the proportion of the population aged 65 and over and the old-age dependency ratio rising gradually over the years. In mid-2011, the number of persons aged 65 and over was 935 100,

C.-M. A. Chan

Department of Sociology and Social Policy, Lingnan University, Room 209, 2F, Dorothy Y. L Wong Building, 8 Castle Peak Road, Tuen Mun, Hong Konge-mail: [email protected]

J.-S. E. Liang (*)

Asia-Pacific Institute of Ageing Studies, Lingnan University, Room 102/3, 1F, B. Y. Lam Building,8 Castle Peak Road, Tuen Mun, Hong Konge-mail: [email protected]

Active Aging: Policy Framework and Applications to Promote Older Adult Participation in Hong Kong

Ageing Int (2013) 38:2842 29

Table 1 Population size and structure of Hong Kong in 20072010

2007 2008 2009 2010

Age (000)

014 909.6 887.1 862.5 848.9

1564 5,164.4 5,213.7 5,264.9 5,328.0

65 and over 878.8 888.1 906.1 925.4

Total Population 6,952.8 6,988.9...