1. Why Start With the Elderly Care System?

Hong Kong is ageing at an unprecedented pace. In 2021, there were about 1.45 million people aged 65 or above, accounting for 20.5% of the total population. By 2046, this is projected to rise to about 2.74 million people, meaning one in every three people will be an older person (36.0%, excluding foreign domestic helpers). Many families only encounter terms such as "elderly home", "waiting list" and "service voucher" for the first time when a parent or older relative starts to need care.

Before making any decision, it helps to hold on to one main idea: Hong Kong's elderly care policy direction is "ageing in place as the core, residential care as backup". In practical terms, Government resources first support older people to continue living in their familiar home and community. Residential care becomes the backup option when community support can no longer meet the person's care needs.

This overview does not go deep into every service. Instead, it gives you a map of the whole system: what the two pillars are, how people enter the system, what subsidies are available, and where to begin. After reading it, you can follow the links to the detailed guides that match your situation. For an immediate personalised starting point, you can also use the care home matching wizard ->.

2. The Two Pillars: Residential Care vs Community Care

Hong Kong's long-term care services can be understood through two main pillars:

  • Community Care: support that allows older people to remain at home and in the community, including day care, home care, home support and related services. In line with the "ageing in place" policy direction, this is the first line of support. In 2022-23, subsidised home-based and centre-based community care services alone had about 27,000 users. See the Community Care Services Guide -> for details.
  • Residential Care: 24-hour accommodation and care provided by residential care homes for the elderly when community support is no longer enough. This is the policy's backup. As of 31 March 2026, Hong Kong had 33,224 subsidised residential care places.

The two pillars are not mutually exclusive. Many families use community services while waiting for a residential care place, then adjust as the older person's condition changes. Understanding this "community first, residential care when needed" sequence is the foundation for the rest of the system.

3. The Entry Gate: SCNAMES and the Central Waiting List

Whether you are looking for community services or residential care, all subsidised long-term care services enter through the same gate: the Standardised Care Need Assessment Mechanism for Elderly Services (SCNAMES) together with the Central Waiting List (CWL). Together, they form a one-stop assessment and registration entry point. One assessment can open both the community care and residential care doors for the older person.

The Central Waiting List has been in place since November 2003. It is the unified waiting platform for subsidised long-term care services in Hong Kong. As of 31 May 2026, there were 18,606 active cases on the list, including 16,779 cases for care-and-attention homes and 1,827 cases for nursing homes. For waiting time, care-and-attention home subsidised/contract places took an average of about 21 months, while bought places in private homes took about 6 months. Nursing home places took an average of about 9 months.

For the assessment process, waiting-list tips, and how a case can move between "active" and "non-active" status, see the Complete Guide to Applying for the Central Waiting List ->.

4. Consumer Subsidy Vouchers: RCSV and CCSV

In addition to the traditional model of allocating service places, the Government has introduced "money-following-the-user" vouchers in recent years. These vouchers let older people choose service providers and share the cost according to their financial circumstances. The two vouchers correspond to the two pillars:

  • Residential Care Service Voucher for the Elderly (RCSV): the voucher for residential care. From 1 April 2026, the voucher value is HK$17,015 per month for a care-and-attention home and HK$21,982 per month for a nursing home. For eligibility and co-payment calculation, see the Residential Care Service Voucher Application Guide ->.
  • Community Care Service Voucher for the Elderly (CCSV): the voucher for community care. In 2026-27, the voucher value is HK$4,526 to HK$10,824 per month. Older people pay a co-payment of 5%, 8%, 12%, 16%, 25% or 40% according to household financial circumstances. CCSV became a regular scheme in September 2023, with the ceiling increased to 10,000 vouchers. In 2022-23, about 9,000 older people used CCSV. See the Community Care Services Guide -> for details.

Important note: these figures are the voucher values, not amounts fully paid by the Government on the older person's behalf. The actual out-of-pocket payment depends on the person's co-payment level after income and asset assessment. The lower the financial means, the lower the co-payment percentage.

5. Residential Care Services at a Glance

Residential care places are split into two broad groups: subsidised and non-subsidised. As of 31 March 2026, Hong Kong had about 39,517 residential care places in total. Of these, 33,224 were subsidised places, including 21,834 places in non-governmental organisation and self-financing homes, plus 11,390 places under the Enhanced Bought Place Scheme. The remaining 6,293 were non-subsidised places:

Category

Places

Notes

Subsidised places (total)

33,224

Made up of the subsidised channels below

  • Care-and-attention homes (subsidised)

16,495

Mainly for older people with moderate impairment

  • Nursing homes (subsidised)

5,337

For severe impairment and nursing care needs

  • Enhanced Bought Place Scheme (EBPS)

11,390

Subsidised places purchased from private residential homes

Non-subsidised places

6,293

Private self-financing places

Hong Kong total

39,517

Subsidised 33,224 + non-subsidised 6,293

There were also 37,747 non-active cases on the Central Waiting List as of 31 May 2026. These older people had completed assessment and temporarily chosen to remain in the community. If their needs change later, they can return to "active" status without starting the queue again.

To compare subvented, contract and private residential homes, including fees and care levels, see the Complete Comparison of Subvented, Contract and Private Residential Homes ->.

6. How to Begin

The system may look large, but the starting point is quite focused. Applications for all subsidised services are handled by social workers through SCNAMES and the Central Waiting List. You can contact any of the following entry points:

  • District Elderly Community Centres / Neighbourhood Elderly Centres: the most accessible elderly service points in the community;
  • Medical Social Services Units: if the older person is in hospital or has just been discharged, you can contact the hospital social worker directly;
  • Integrated Family Service Centres: for family-level care and support needs.

If you are not sure which one to contact, call the Social Welfare Department hotline at 2343 2255. Staff can direct you to the appropriate service unit.

To avoid an unproductive trip, consider starting with the care home matching wizard ->. After a few questions, it can help organise the older person's care needs and district preferences, then connect that clearer picture with the application process above before you approach a social worker.

7. Related Guides

Think of this overview as the map for the knowledge base. Choose the next guide according to what you need:

Assessment and tools first

Community care pillar

Entry gate and residential care pillar

Still have questions?

  • FAQ -> - one-stop answers on applications, waiting, fees and services.

Once you understand the main line of "ageing in place, two pillars, one entry gate", you have the map in hand. A practical next step is to begin with the care home matching wizard ->.