Survey finds high demand but low use of elderly facilities in Taipa and Coloane

A survey by the General Union of Neighborhood Associations’ (UGAMM) Islands District Office has found that while more than a third of respondents need elderly care facilities, the vast majority have never used those in Taipa or Coloane, pointing to a significant gap between potential demand and actual uptake.

The results were released at a press conference held at UGAMM’s Seac Pai Van Family and Community Integrated Service Center, where they were presented by lawmaker Leong Hong Sai, president of the Taipa Community Development Association, along with representatives of the group.

The survey collected 1,063 valid questionnaires. It found that 36.5% of respondents said they or their family members needed elderly care facilities, yet 80.5% had never used such facilities in Taipa or Coloane — indicating high latent demand but low actual usage.

The three most needed services were 24-hour emergency call services at 50.5%, elderly day centers offering social and recreational activities or interest classes at 38.3%, and elderly day care centers providing daytime care and rehabilitation training at 24.25%. The findings suggest the most pressing needs are home safety and daytime social and care services.

On smart elderly care, 61.9% of respondents said they had never heard of or did not understand the concept. However, after the investigators explained it and asked about their willingness to use it, nearly 60% said they were willing or very willing to do so, pointing to potential for further development in the sector.

Attitudes toward cross-border elderly care were more cautious, with the largest share of respondents, nearly 40%, choosing “neutral.” Fees at 57.7% and location at 53.5% were the key factors determining whether respondents would pursue care in the mainland.

On cultural and sports facilities, only 14.1% and 14.01% of respondents considered existing venues adequate for cultural and sports use, respectively, indicating that supply falls short of demand. Respondents most wanted more multipurpose activity rooms, indoor recreational facilities and outdoor leisure plazas.

The association put forward four recommendations. It called for accelerating the building of a “15-minute community elderly service circle,” upgrading public spaces to age-friendly standards, increasing residential care places to narrow the demand gap in areas such as Seac Pai Van, and promoting the marketization of elderly services with diversified fee options. It also urged vigorous promotion of smart home-based elderly care through a three-pronged strategy of financial subsidies, community trials and social worker instruction, with Hengqin well positioned for a pilot.

On cross-border care, it proposed establishing information and referral mechanisms, including regular visits to elderly care homes in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area and a study on expanding medical voucher coverage.

It further recommended optimizing cultural and sports facilities in the Taipa–Coloane area by building an all-weather, barrier-free multipurpose center and upgrading outdoor plazas with running tracks, swimming pools, tai chi areas and table tennis tables.