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But Hong Kong neither has a long-term care insurance Recommendation 2.2: Extend
program for elderly or PwD, nor any Government-subsidised
vouchers to purchase or rent
program empowering individual end-users to acquire
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gerontech. Instead, elderly have access to voucher gerontech products
schemes that subsidise the cost of certain medical or welfare
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care services. Also, while Hong Kong does have a gerontech At present, the Government offers various voucher schemes.
rental program—namely the Jockey Club “age at home” Gerontech aligns well with the goals of the Elderly Health Care
Gerontech Education and Rental Service launched in April Voucher Scheme (EHCVS) and the Community Care Service
2020—it is a non-governmental initiative coordinated by Voucher (CCSV). For example, the objective of the EHCVS is
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HKCSS and operated by three NGOs through charitable to provide all elderly aged ≥ 65 with a financial incentive to
donations, without any support from the Government (Jockey consume primary healthcare services, including preventive
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Club age at home, 2021). care (Department of Health (DH) Elderly Health Care Voucher
Scheme Background, 2021). And the objective of the CCSV is
Yet, there is widespread support for the idea of expanding to provide moderately or severely impaired elderly to purchase
the scope of existing vouchers to include the procurement community care services to support their ageing-in-place (SWD,
of gerontech. According to a survey conducted by Lingnan 2021, September 30) (Table 4). A wireless health monitoring
University, 87% of participants believed the Government equipment, for example, can help with the management of chronic
should extend the scope of health care vouchers for gerontech conditions. This is line with the objective of the EHCVS since
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products (LingnanU, 2020). The vast majority of stakeholders it encourages the elderly to regularly engage in preventive
that we interviewed also share this view that vouchers are a practice at home and helps the elderly prevent or better manage
well-established pipeline to encourage end-users to acquire their chronic health conditions. As for ageing-in-place, an electric
gerontech. The question is therefore which vouchers schemes assisted rear wheel for wheelchairs can help the elderly to freely
should be extended to encourage end-users to purchase or move and reduce caregiver burden. This not only encourages the
rent gerontech products, and how should they be extended. prospect of living at home but also supports the objective of the
CCSV to prevent or delay premature institutionalisation (SWD I&T
Fund Reference List, 2021).

38 Both elderly and PwD also have access to social security allowances that are not means-tested. The Old Age Allowance (HKD 1,475 per month) is offered to all elderly aged ≥ 70.
The Normal Old Age Living Allowance (HKD 2,845 per month) and Higher Old Age Living Allowances (HKD 3,815 per month) are offered to low-income elderly aged ≥ 65. People with
severe disabilities, as certified by the Director of Health or Hospital Authority Chief Executive, are offered with disability allowances (SWD, 2021 September 28). The Normal Disability
Allowance (HKD 1,885 per month) is given to about 112,200 people with severe disabilities. The Higher Disability Allowance (HKD 3,770 per month) is given to about 20,300 severely
disabled persons requiring constant attendance at home (LWB, 2016; 1823.gov.hk, 2021).
39 However, it should be noted that equivalent vouchers do not exist for PwD.
40 The three NGOs operating the education and rental service program are the Hong Kong Red Cross, St. James’ Settlement, and the Evangelical Lutheran Church Social Service – Hong
Kong (Jockey Club age at home, 2021).
41 Survey respondents are participants that attended the GIES in 2019.
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58 The EHCVS was launched in 2009 and regularised by 2014. The CCSV is in the Third Phase of the Pilot Scheme as of October 2020.