Community attitudes to institutional care of the aged in Hong Kong

TP Lam, I Chi, L Piterman, CLK Lam, I Lauder
General Practice Unit, Department of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong

The objective of the study was to assess community attitudes to institutional care of the aged in Hong Kong. A random sample of 1,023 adult residents were telephone-interviewed. 22.7% and 57.5% of the respondents agreed or strongly agreed that non-disabled and disabled elderly be accommodated in institutions respectively. Social factors of the respondents and physical and behavioural factors of the elderly had significant effects on these attitudes. Furthermore, age, gender, educational level and experience in living or looking after elderly also had significant effects. This study provides important information on the community attitudes to institutionalization of the elderly in Hong Kong. These attitudes will have significant effects on the demand for institutional care for the elderly in the next decade. The findings should also help health care workers identify elderly at-risk of institutionalization. Hence, early intervention may help reduce some of these placements.

Hong Kong Med J 1996;2:10-7

Key words: Elderly, institutionalization, Chinese, Hong Kong