3,000 seniors to gain free access to local smart alarm network in first phase

Macau has not yet reached “super-aged society” status, but with residents aged 65 and above projected to account for more than one-fifth of the population by 2029, authorities are moving to get ahead of the curve.

Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture O Lam and Social Welfare Bureau director Wilson Hon used Friday’s policy debate at the Legislative Assembly (AL) to set out plans to expand smart elderly care, strengthen services for seniors living alone, and accelerate fee waivers for the Peng On Tung Tele-Assistance Service.

O Lam said care for elderly people living alone or in two-elderly-person households will be stepped up, with the free use of the Peng On Tung service.

The service, operated by the General Union of Neighbourhood Associations of Macau (UGAMM), offers 24-hour emergency support for the elderly in Macau. It also provides outdoor safety tracking services with real-time location monitoring for personal safety and activity monitoring.

At present, the service website states that the first user pays a monthly fee of MOP100 to rent a device, while a second user living in the same household pays MOP50.

The IAS president also addressed the government’s hopes to encourage more elderly residents to use the Peng On Tung tele-assistance service by phasing in fee waivers.

According to Hon, the first phase of fees being waived will add 3,000 slots next year, prioritizing people aged 85 and above who live alone or in two-person elderly households, while also expanding the Safe Pass or Outdoor Safe Pass for seniors living alone. The age threshold will then be lowered to 75 in 2027 and 65 in 2028.

“The fees for the ‘Peng On Tung’ service will be waived in phases for single-person and dual-resident families who need it,” remarked the Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture. She added, “We hope to reach 14,000 people in the first three years. In the first phase next year, we will prioritize installing for single elderly living alone aged 85 and above – as well as for dual-resident elders. We also previously had a preliminary support scheme for solo elderly – which we will also expand.”

According to its latest service data, Peng On Tung reported 4,586 users of its basic service and 1,399 users for its outdoor coverage. Since launch, the service has handled tens of thousands of emergency calls and hospital referrals, while its outdoor coverage has supported 3,612 cases of people seeking help or using location tracking.

Authorities also mentioned plans to develop an electronic map that uses community centers for the elderly as hubs – integrating services such as activity registration and meal ordering to make support easier to access.

O Lam said elderly care facilities will be planned according to the proportion of seniors in each service area – stressing that current arrangements are only a first step and will be adjusted over time. She added that once new census data is available, resource allocation will be fine-tuned – noting that efforts to improve services “will not be interrupted.”

Silver economy in the GBA

O Lam also described healthcare and age-friendly living environments as the core of Macau’s senior living industry, which the government intends to further integrate into the Greater Bay Area (GBA) market. On smart elderly care, she noted that the mainland is advancing rapidly in related technologies – making the introduction of mainland products a fast and effective way to upgrade local services.

On extending support options for seniors who may choose to live or receive services outside Macau, the Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture mentioned that the government plans to launch cross-border elderly care pilot projects in Zhuhai and Zhongshan.

The official also said that, in line with the national “9037” model – which calls for 90% home-based care, 3% community-supported care and 7% institutional care – and given the growing number of care and nursing homes, the government plans to add more than 1,000 beds in two new pre-nursing homes in the winter of 2028–2029 – bringing the total number of beds in Macau to more than 3,700.

The “9037” model reflects survey findings by the National Health Commission.