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Hong Kong officials are exploring the possibility of extending the city’s home visit program to include “young elderly” individuals between the ages of 60 and 80 who provide care for those with long-term illnesses, according to the head of the city’s welfare department, following a recent incident involving an elderly caregiver.

Speaking during a televised program on Sunday, Chris Sun, the Secretary for Labour and Welfare,saidThe city’s existing home visit program, which serves individuals 80 years and older residing in public housing, could be extended to support vulnerable families with members suffering from long-term health conditions.

“My first thought is to focus on individuals between the ages of 60 and 79. This group is considered young elderly, but if one member of the couple has significant health issues requiring long-term care, then this family is definitely at greater risk,” he said in Cantonese.

Sun’s comments followed a report from a woman to the police last week, stating that her 70-year-old stepfather tried to hang himself at home while her 78-year-old mother was discovered on the bed with her head covered by a blanket. Both were taken to the hospital unconscious, and the elderly woman was later declared dead.according to local media reports.

SpeakingFollowing the program, Sun stated that authorities will use big data across government departments and the Hospital Authority to locate elderly couples made up of a long-term patient and a caregiver.

Sun mentioned that older patients with dementia and their caregivers might be viewed as higher risk, but also noted that the government will consult with the Hospital Authority to determine which patients should receive earlier treatment.

“We will consult with the Hospital Authority and review the data. We hope to locate them and visit as soon as possible,” he said, noting that these cases will be referred to social workers once identified.

“Our approach is to develop a more robust support and assistance system,” he added.

The trend of “older people caring for older people” has sparked worries about the city’s assistance for its aging residents after a series of incidentstragedies involving elderly carers.

In 2024, the Hong Kong Sheng Kung Hui Welfare Council, a non-governmental organization, discovered that80 percent of the city’s caregivers are 60 years old or older, with more than half being 70 years old or older.

Approximately 80 percent reported experiencing stress because of their caregiving responsibilities, while roughly 40 percent provided care for a minimum of eight hours each day, according to the NGO.

A city with 7.5 million residents is experiencing an aging demographic, as the percentage of people aged 65 and older is projected to rise from 21% in 2021 to 36% by 2046, as reported by authorities.figures.