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But in the short to medium term, it is difficult to expect in Japan, which offers assistive device rentals to elderly
current end-users in the community to procure gerontech (aged ≥ 65) living at home as part of their Long-term Care
without some financial assistance. Among the many Insurance Program (International Longevity Centre (ILC)-Japan,
challenges facing our elderly population, one that negatively 2018). As illustrated by Figure 16, Japanese elderly are required
predisposes them to financial vulnerability during old age to pay mandatory insurance, which helps cover rental costs.
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is insufficient retirement protection (Gap 4). In our survey An elderly only needs to pay a monthly out-of-pocket payment
findings, stakeholders have indicated that insufficient retirement of renting a device at either 10% or 20% of its commercial rental
protection is one of the three gaps that has worsened over cost. Products are categorised into 13 categories based on
time (score -0.05). The weak state of Hong Kong’s existing functionality (e.g., wheelchairs, walkers, hospital beds) for easier
retirement protection system may have implications on choice and customisation. Elderly also have access to a case
the elderly’s willingness to spend money—especially manager—referred to as “assistive device planners”—who can
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on gerontech. Not to mention, many elderly who reside in help them with all device-related queries (UNESCAP, 2021).
domestic households and do not access community and
supports services will not benefit from the $1 billion I&T Fund. Outside Japan, mainland China is also exploring Government-
Therefore, identifying appropriate funding support for elderly subsidised rehabilitation assistive device rental services for the
living at home is crucial for increasing their accessibility to the elderly (中国政府网, 2016). Singapore also has an Assistive
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gerontech market. Technology Fund that provides subsidies for PwD to purchase,
replace, upgrade, or repair assistive technology devices (Ministry
Other governments subsidise the cost for end-users to directly of Social and Family Development, 2020). 37
procure gerontech products. One of the most successful
programs is the Welfare Equipment Rental Program (WERP)

33 Existing retirement schemes include the Mandatory Provident Fund, Reverse Mortgage Programme, Life Annuity Plan, etc. (OHKF, 2017, June).
34 PwD are also an economically marginalised population group. Discounting those who have retired, 24.3% of PwD aged ≥ 15 are economically inactive, significantly higher
than the city’s overall unemployment rate of 4.7% (EOC, 2019; C&SD Labour Force, 2021). Furthermore, among the 506,000 PwD residing in households, 40.2% of their caregivers
must take care of the PwD’s daily activities and are also likely economically inactive (EOC, 2019).
35 The co-payment amount is adjusted based on an elderly person’s income.
36 Launched in 2019, the Shanghai Civil Affairs Bureau offers rental services of rehabilitation equipment and accessories in 70 pilot communities, expecting citywide coverage by 2021.
Rental stations are mainly set up at elderly service centres in pilot communities. All Shanghai residents aged ≥ 75, as well as low-income elderly aged 60–74, can apply for subsidies
worth 50% of rental price, with a maximum annual subsidy of RMB 3,000 (中国政府网, 2019).
37 Successful applicants qualify for a means-tested subsidy of up to 90% of the cost of the device, subject to a lifetime cap of SGD 40,000 (approximately HKD 230,000) (Ministry of
Social and Family Development, 2020).

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