Background
Ageing population in Hong Kong
The advancement in healthcare services results in improvement of life expectancy. The expectations of life at birth were 72.3 years for males and 78.5 years for females in 1981. The corresponding figures increased to 81.4 years for males and 87.3 for females by 2015. Given the condition of increase of life expectancy, the population is projected to be ageing in the coming 50 years.
Ageing and Health
Importance of Prevention of Chronic Diseases
The median age diagnosing of chronic diseases was 59 as of 2015.
Advocacy of Intergenerational Support and Cross Sector Partnerships
Challenges of an Ageing Population
By 2064
- More than 1/3 of the population will be elderly people
- The expectation of life will reach 87 for male and 92.3 for female
- Rates of Persons who had Chronic Health Conditions
Over 50% of persons who had chronic health conditions are aged 65 or above:
- Heart disease
- Diabetes mellitus
- Hypertension
- Stroke
- Increase in financial burden of primary care
Family Capacity to bear Caring Responsibility
- Change of family structure
The average households size shrank from 3.3 in 2000 to 2.9 n 2015 - Rising female labour force participation
While over 50% of female engaged in labour market, the traditional family support is weakening
- Significant decrease in the number of informal care supply in the future
Ways to Healthy Ageing
Importance of Prevention of Chronic Diseases
- Healthy Diet
- Principles of healthy diet: low fat, low salt and low sugar
- Having 2 servings of medium-sized fruit, 3 servings of vegetables (1 bowl of half-cooked vegetables), and adequate amount of protein (approximately 5-6 taels lean meat) and calcium intake every day
- Physical Activity for Health
- Stretching Exercises
- Muscle Strengthening Exercises
Advocacy of Intergenerational Support and Cross Sector Partnerships
- Engagement of secondary schools, academic institutes and NGOs
- Participation in health related community service programme