Hong Kong’s long-term care policy direction is “ageing-in-place first, residential care as a last resort”. All types of long-term care services are assessed and matched through the same Single Assessment Mechanism for Elderly Services (SCNAMES), so you do not need to decide on your own.
The main services and target groups are:
- Frail Elderly Home Care Service -- a home-based community care service delivered to the home. It serves frail older persons aged 60 or above who have been assessed under SCNAMES as suitable for community care or residential care. (It was formerly known as “Integrated Home Care Services (Frail Cases)” and “Enhanced Home and Community Care Services”, which were merged on April 1, 2026.)
- Day care centre/unit for the elderly -- older persons attend the centre during the day; this is also a community care service.
- Residential care services -- for older persons aged 65 or above who have been assessed under SCNAMES as requiring long-term residential care.
Learn more -> Overview of residential care services