Despite challenges of aged care in Hong Kong, this 33-year-old carer finds fulfilment

Dressed in his light blue uniform, Yau is a senior nursing officer at Pine Care Jade Maison in Sheung Shui. The young carer has found his calling in a profession that is often overlooked and stigmatised in Hong Kong: aged care.

Serving meals, cleaning up after residents and, at times, witnessing the deaths of those in his care – these challenges have not deterred Yau from his mission.

“People often mention the dirty work of cleaning up faeces and urine. But it has never really bothered me,” he said.

“If they have limited abilities, it’s our responsibility to help them live with dignity and comfort. Every profession has its unpleasant aspects.”

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Care homes are where many elderly spend their final years. Hong Kong has about 800 care homes offering approximately 79,000 beds, with around 40 per cent of them subsidised by the Social Welfare Department.

With Hong Kong’s rapidly ageing population, the high demand for subsidised care homes has led to an average wait time of about two years. Some people die while still on the waiting list.

Though Yau had considered a hospital career, he chose to work in elderly care homes because he felt they provided more opportunities to prioritise people’s needs.

“Hospitals focus on getting patients discharged as quickly as possible, and patients come hoping to leave soon. But elderly care homes are where seniors can spend their later years in comfort – some even see them as home,” he said.

“We take the time to understand their habits and preferences, and building relationships takes time. We look for ways to make them happier and healthier, both mentally and physically. In comparison, care homes are less restrictive and more human-centred.”

Yau’s passion for helping the elderly was sparked during his time working for a local NGO, where he would visit seniors who were living alone in public housing estates and distribute food to them.

“I realised there were many elderly people living alone who needed help with basic tasks like eating, or simply having someone visit them,” the care worker recalled.

“With minimal contact with family members and few visitors, their isolation was apparent.”

After seeing Hong Kong’s urgent need for more support in senior care, he completed a two-year training programme on the mainland and decided to cement his career in this sector.

“In elderly care, what matters most is your mindset and how you face the challenges, and whether you can find a sense of fulfilment,” he noted.

Nine years ago, Yau started in an entry-level role at a senior nursing home and was promoted to director in 2021. Last year, while working full-time, he completed a part-time course to become a registered nurse.

“Without empathy, it’s difficult to stay in this field,” he shared.

Yau’s daily routine involves meetings with nurses and different teams to monitor the health of the elderly residents. Each morning, he reviews their condition, checking for any signs of discomfort or changes from the previous night. Constant communication with his colleagues is essential, as he addresses urgent concerns and provides guidance.

“Our service quality depends on the collaboration of all departments – kitchen, cleaning, laundry [and] social services – each playing a vital role. When every team works together, our elderly residents receive better care,” he explained.

Hong Kong’s ageing population is expected to rise. According to the Census and Statistics Department, the number of people aged 65 and over is expected to nearly double, from 1.32 million in 2019 to 2.52 million by 2039 – and this number could reach 2.58 million by 2069.

The United Nations has also predicted that Hong Kong, along with South Korea, will have the world’s oldest populations by 2050.

Many Hongkongers view residential care as a last resort, often avoiding it because of its poor reputation and previous scandals involving abuse and neglect. However, Yau emphasised that these misconceptions were not a reflection of most senior care homes.

“Many elderly or their families believe that staff lack empathy or that the service is poor, partly because of how care homes are portrayed in films,” he noted.

“But in reality, many institutions are doing great work, with dedicated staff who genuinely care for the elderly.”

Yau also highlighted the ongoing shortage of workers in the city’s senior care industry. This problem was especially dire during the coronavirus pandemic when elderly homes were hit hard and many staff resigned.

“When I first joined the industry, the shortage of staff was already a problem. Employees often have to juggle multiple responsibilities,” he shared. “It’s a long-standing issue that still persists and needs long-term solutions.”

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Despite the challenges, he has noticed a recent growing interest in aged care among young people, particularly from those with backgrounds in nursing and social work.

“In the past, many young people left the job because they found it too physically demanding. But I’ve seen more young people giving elderly care a try as they search for the right career,” he said.

To attract more young people to the field, Yau hoped to see more collaborations between schools and care homes, which can give students opportunities to visit or intern.

He emphasised that elderly care was a “comprehensive profession” that deserved more recognition.

“Elderly care homes are not just about nursing ... Every service we provide has its own details, procedures and techniques,” Yau explained. “We train our staff to meet our standards.”

He stressed that patience and, above all, empathy were key for this job.

“Just by pausing for a moment and setting aside what we are doing to listen to the elderly for even 30 seconds, it can make them feel respected. Having patience allows us to understand what the elderly are thinking.”

* Full name withheld at interviewee’s request.