Progress underway for 15-minute community service zones for seniors

The government has proposed establishing community service zones for seniors across Macau, designed to be accessible within 15 to 20 minutes, while the Social Welfare Bureau (IAS) announced yesterday updates on its population aging plan, indicating that data collection on seniors living alone and in two-elderly households will soon be completed.

In mid-2025, Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture O Lam announced plans to address aging in Macau, stating that the population aged 65 and older currently stands at 14.6%.

This figure is projected to rise to 21.4% by 2029, surpassing the threshold for a super-aged society. By 2041, this percentage is expected to reach 24.8%, nearly one-quarter of the total population.

To respond to this demographic shift, the government plans to establish community service zones for seniors across Macau that are accessible within 15 to 20 minutes and include various senior service institutions.

The Secretary further emphasized that census data on seniors living alone and in two-elderly households will serve as a crucial foundation for developing community-based elderly care.

A follow-up briefing on the aging plan was held yesterday, with Wilson Hon, president of IAS, stating that data collection is nearing completion through the cooperation of more than 70 social service organizations across Macau in order to establish a comprehensive database.

“This lays the foundation for targeted policy implementation in future elderly services,” he noted during his remarks.

Notably, the Macau authorities have addressed the issue of insufficient residential care places for the elderly by proposing the exploration of pilot programs.

As reported, they aim to identify pilot care facilities in mainland China within the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area, including Zhuhai, where the government will extend support to elderly residents. Currently, more than 100 related proposals are in the planning stage for implementation within the first two years, as the authorities compile an Action Plan for Elderly Services from 2026 to 2035, with plans to proceed with this initiative as a pilot program.

Hon’s bureau hosted a Lunar New Year banquet for social service personnel yesterday, where he announced that the bureau will systematically implement two long-term plans this year.

These initiatives will focus on continuously enhancing services for the elderly and improving rehabilitation services.

Facing the dual challenges of declining birth rates and an aging population, Hon emphasized the bureau’s commitment to addressing the needs of both the elderly and children.

“This year, we will collaborate with relevant departments to implement the ‘Full-Cycle Maternal Health Protection Program’ and the ‘Parent Academy,’” he stated.

He further explained that the goal is to build a comprehensive system of public services and safeguards that spans the entire life cycle and integrates into all aspects of daily life.

Meanwhile, the bureau revealed plans to launch a funding program aimed at encouraging social service organizations to procure assistive technology devices. Additionally, it will review the current funding system to support social institutions in enhancing service efficiency and innovation capabilities.