The first thing to provide for elders to age at home is to provide them with a home which they feel comfortable and at ease. Especially for those who suffer from dementia, stroke or Parkinson’s disease, a tailor-made home to accommodate their special needs not only helps ensure their safety and convenience, but also facilitate their caregivers in looking after them.
Designing a home for the elderly is more demanding than ordinary interior design. It requires more specific and professional knowledge. In Hong Kong, Government-funded organizations, such as Hong Kong Housing Society, social services organizations, volunteer groups and social enterprises provide a wide range of services including home assessment, interior design, renovation, remodelling or retrofitting. You can assess the actual needs and the present condition and constraints of your home, as well as your budget, before deciding whether you need to undertake a complete remodelling or simply a smaller-scale renovation or improvement works.
Home Assessment
You may approach the Social Welfare Department or those social services organizations with Home Assessment Service for advice before making the decision. These organizations can arrange to have their professional staff to perform detailed inspections at the home of the elderly. Professional advice will then be provided and through discussions with the designer, a tailor-made design proposal will be prepared. There are also companies which design homes specifically for the elderlies. Their design teams have good knowledge about the risks that elderlies may encounter in their daily lives.
Minor improvement and renovation works
If the changes in your home are simple improvements such as installation of handrails, change of doorknobs or replacement of electrical appliances, the social services organizations or social enterprises can offer such kind of services for free or at a small fee. Do check the
service providers and find out which is most suitable for you based on your financial affordability.
If the project involves electrical and water works such as changing bathroom fixtures, removal of door thresholds, rewiring for the entire unit or demolishing a wall, you will need to make sure that the project is carried out according to the
Simplified Requirements of General Guidelines on Minor Works Control System. You must apply for a permit from the Buildings Department if the remodeling might affect the structure of the building or if it is not categorized as Designated Exempted Works nor Minor Works. You can refer to the guideline of the
Buildings Department for details and consult an architect or a registered contractor for their professional advice to see if the project conforms with the rules.
We also provide “
Home Design Videos” to share the design ideas of other countries in this page.
-
Easy Home
Services include Home Safety Assessment and home-based Occupational Therapy.
-
Lok Kwan Social Service: Home Easy
A one-stop professional home service including renovation, maintenance, plumbing and electrical engineering, house cleansing and removal.
Service Hotline:
Removal Services: 8102 1212 (Quotation Hotline for Special 24 hours transportation service)
House Cleansing: 8107 1339
Renovation: 8107 1333
Bathroom Safety
Utilization of Living Space