[CityUHK Research for the Future] HomAge to the Elderly: Community-based healthcare for the future
When Ms Wong, 81, began experiencing pains in her hips and back after surviving a stroke, she struggled to walk on her own. Thankfully, nurses from the HomAge project conducted a pain assessment and helped her regain her mobility through stretching exercises. With the help of a walking aid and the care of the HomAge team, she was able to go out for walks and reconnect with her neighbours on her own after 12 weeks, regaining her smile and confidence.
Stories like Ms Wong’s are common in Hong Kong, where more than one-third of the population will be aged 65 or above by 2043. To better cope with the forthcoming “silver tsunami”, researchers at CityUHK are actively seeking innovative solutions to transform the elderly care system from traditional institutional models to more effective ageing-in-place systems.
The HomAge project, led by Professor Frank Chen Youhua, Chair Professor of the Department of Decision Analytics and Operations, is tackling the challenges of long waiting times, overcrowding and financial constraints that older patients often face, built upon a prevention-oriented, family-centred, community-based healthcare model.
For over a decade, Professor Chen’s team has been at the forefront of ageing-in-place research and practice. Through sustained partnerships with NGOs from 2015 to 2025, the team assessed over 3,768 older individuals, with more than 1,800 receiving health management interventions.
With the help of home visits, health assessments, and personalised home care services coordinated by Ms Hera Leung, Project Manager of the HomAge project, the team’s efforts revealed that timely interventions yield significant benefits for patients. The participants reported improved health management skills, increased physical activity and better dietary choices, and experienced notable reductions in loneliness and depression, reinforcing the importance of community-based care.
Beyond immediate caregiving, the initiative has trained over 3,000 volunteers, caregivers and healthcare professionals in vital skills such as health coaching and nursing care tailored for seniors, ensuring a connection that bridges generations.
Equipping seniors with skills and knowledge to direct their own care and monitor chronic conditions extends beyond immediate health improvements. It has also been found to improve cost-effectiveness in reducing healthcare expenses. The team found that every dollar spent on community-based health care programmes can reduce public medical costs by over 300%.
Professor Chen says that older people should be empowered to take charge of their own healthcare, as Hong Kong’s ageing population continues to rise. “The HomAge team believes that every older person should have their needs provided for and met. We aim to provide them with the resources and community to help them improve their health and well-being.”
The HomAge project provides a sustainable model that prioritises both prevention and accessibility, setting a benchmark for elderly care in Hong Kong. This project is a testament to CityUHK’s support for innovative, community-focused healthcare initiatives, driving research that enhances the quality of life for the community. This partnership demonstrates that, with the right resources and knowledge, we can work together to create a supportive environment for older individuals to thrive in their own homes.
CityUHK has been committed to transforming research excellence into real world applications that benefit society. The “CityUHK Research for the Future” series showcases the University’s prominent research projects over the years and how they contribute to building a sustainable, inclusive, and innovative future.