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Research is often seen as an “ivory tower”, an isolated and privileged environment where academics discuss among themselves instead of offering practical solutions for everyday people. However, at the Sau Po Centre on Ageing, I am glad to say that this is not the case. Working at the centre, I have had the unique opportunity to engage directly with carers and older adults, listening to the stories they share, the trials they have overcome, their hopes for the future. I have also had the privilege of connecting and training volunteers who offer up their time to serve these older adults, and often they end up teaching me new things about caregiving as well. When we think about research, the first things that come to mind are correlations, statistical significance, and other technical jargon. But behind every single datapoint is a person with their own unique experiences. Every time I sit down with these people, I am reminded of why research exists in the first place: for the betterment and advancement of the community. By: Jeff YIU, Research Assistant Email: yiuj1@hku.hk…

Reflections on a Research-Practice Partnership at CoA Since I entered CoA, I witnessed how it has built a rewarding collaboration with the Aberdeen Kai-Fong Welfare Association (AKA), supporting their frontline teams in using big data to improve elderly care services. I am glad to be engaged in collecting data in their community, and be contributing to the next phase of this partnership, which continues to grow from strong foundations laid by earlier joint work. The standardised big data assessment protocol for AKA’s Elderly Centre Service Management System (ECS), alongside training workshops can strengthen staff members’ confidence in handling data and conducting interviews. I also had deeper understanding of the structure and scales of NGO and learnt how to translate numbers into practical data insight for service planning. The field visiting to different centers from AKA let me exchange interviewing techniques and refine intervention strategies together with social workers. What I find most meaningful about this project is how it bridges research and practice in real life. It is not only about building technical skills in data systems, but about empowering frontline colleagues to turn everyday service data into better support for older adults. I look forward to seeing how this…

Before joining the Sau Po Centre on Ageing, my research was largely theoretical. It centred on social psychology and behavioural science, with a particular focus on younger adults. Although I had also been involved in several research projects related to older adults, these experiences were not enough for me to fully understand the everyday challenges faced by older adults and carers. Since joining the CoA and working on the JC Carer Space Project, I have had more opportunities to interact directly with carers and older adults. Through these interactions, I have gained a deeper understanding of the challenges carers may encounter during caregiving. Learning more about their experiences has also made me reflect on how research can better respond to their actual needs. For example, although many older adults now use smartphones, this does not necessarily mean that they are able to make full use of them in their daily lives. Some may still have difficulty searching for information or identifying resources relevant to their needs. Similarly, while they may appreciate the online resources provided by our project, these resources may not always be as convenient or accessible to them as we might expect. These may appear to be relatively…

Over the past year, I have had the privilege of contributing to several research and community projects focused on healthy ageing, mental well-being, and dementia care. A particularly enriching part of this journey has been working closely with older adults and family caregivers. Their lived experiences have provided valuable insights into the mental health challenges encountered by both care recipients and caregivers, especially in relation to dementia. Through this work, I have learned that caregiving and dementia disclosure are closely intertwined with traditional cultural values, family expectations, and social norms. These factors influence how individuals seek support and communicate about their experiences. As researchers and practitioners, we need to be sensitive to these social and cultural contexts when designing interventions and services. These experiences have also reinforced the importance of a co-design approach, whereby older adults, caregivers, service providers, and other stakeholders actively contribute to developing meaningful and contextually appropriate solutions. Another aspect has impressed me is the enthusiasm for artificial intelligence and digital innovation. I am continually inspired by colleagues who actively explore new technologies to enhance research, service delivery, and community engagement. Through these collaborations, I have learned not only new tools and approaches but also how innovation…

Last month, I was invited to deliver a seminar to the professional staff at the Haven of Hope Sister Annie Skau Holistic Care Centre. The seminar covered a range of topics, including current demographic trends and characteristics of local caregivers of older adults, caregiver needs screening, psychological interventions for caregivers experiencing distress, planning the caregiving journey, and case sharing.Two important themes emerged during the professional exchange in the seminar. First, the staff at the Centre had heard many accounts from new caregivers who were struggling to navigate local services and to acquire the knowledge required to provide care. Given the rapidly ageing population in Hong Kong, it would be beneficial to provide broad public education before the majority of people inevitably become home caregivers. In fact, I believe that the frequency and intensity of such public education should be comparable to the level at which the Mandatory Provident Fund (MPF) was promoted in Hong Kong, i.e., a necessity.The second important theme discussed was the limited awareness of caregiving planning among new caregivers. New caregivers often focus only on immediate and obvious problems without anticipating upcoming challenges. Moreover, a comprehensive care plan should not only address the needs of the care…

I worked as a pre-school teacher for seven years. I truly enjoyed spending time with children, but as the declining birth rate affected the industry, my workload began to increase steadily. The nature of my job was already evolving when I first started, and it has continued to change over time. Ultimately, I made the decision to leave the industry. (My last working day in nursery school) Two years ago, I chose to take on an administrative role at CoA. When I first arrived, I felt like I had entered a different world. The environment is quiet, and I spend most of my time working on the computer rather than interacting with colleagues, as most of them work independently. Fortunately, the admin team members are very kind and supportive, which has helped me adapt to my new working environment. Currently, I serve as the project administrator for Stand by-U 2.0, a program designed to help caregivers take well-deserved breaks and relax. I believe this project is very meaningful, as it provides entertainment and companionship for the elderly. Volunteers can engage in conversations with care recipients, making their lives more interesting and enriching. Being part of the Stand by-U 2.0 project…

As China ages, millions of parents who raised only one child are entering later life. Compared with older adults who have multiple children, they may face greater concerns about future care, financial security, and social support. In response, China introduced the Elderly Family Planning Subsidy (EFPS), a program that provides financial assistance to eligible older adults from one-child families. In our new study published in the Journal of Aging & Social Policy, we examined whether this policy was associated with better health outcomes among older Chinese adults. Using nationally representative longitudinal data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS), we followed 1,981 subsidy-eligible older adults and compared recipients with similar non-recipients. Measuring Policy Impact The findings suggest that the EFPS has not yet translated into measurable improvements in health outcomes. We found no significant differences between subsidy recipients and comparable non-recipients in self-rated health, cognitive function, daily functioning, chronic disease burden, depressive symptoms, or overall mortality. These findings are important because the EFPS was introduced to help address the unique challenges faced by older adults from one-child families, a population that may have fewer sources of family support as they age. Why Might the Policy Be Falling Short?…

As a researcher at the Sau Po Centre on Ageing, I have experienced genuine excitement about what AI can bring to my daily work. Tasks that once kept me at the table for hours, such as organising literature, cleaning data, and developing preliminary codes, can now be completed at a speed I had never imagined. I value this efficiency, and I am more inspired by the new possibilities AI creates for research. However, it is important to recognise that AI is not a panacea. Using AI responsibly requires me to remain attentive to the accuracy of its outputs, the privacy of research data, and the biases it may reproduce. AI can support my judgement, but it cannot replace my responsibility as a researcher. More importantly, in my work at the Sau Po Centre on Ageing, the time saved through AI has allowed me to spend more time with the people at the heart of our research: older adults, carers, community partners, and frontline practitioners. It creates more opportunities for me to listening to and learning from them, discuss challenges arising on the front line, and understand the contexts that an algorithm cannot fully capture. Through visits to different research sites,…

Having worked at the Centre, I have gained valuable insights into the complex nature of aging. When I am stepping into this field, I understand the importance of adopting a comprehensive approach that considers not only physical health but also mental well-being, social engagement, and environmental influences on older adults’ quality of life. Through my experience, I have learned how dedicated research and evidence-based policies can make a difference, helping better live with dignity, comfort and purpose. This journey has also shown me the importance of collaboration with different stakeholders, working together to address real-world challenges.  Personally, I understand and recognize resilience and dignity of the elderly, learning to see them not just as recipients of care, but as individuals with stories, wisdom, and dignity.  This experience has strengthened my interest in promoting healthy aging, social inclusion, and a more supportive society for our aging population. I am happy for the opportunities to learn and grow in this impactful field. By: Rachel LAUNG, Executive Officer Email: laungks@hku.hk…

One of the greatest privileges of working with caregivers in CoA is being invited into stories that people rarely share openly. Behind every conversation is a unique journey, filled with moments of love, uncertainty, loss, hope, and growth. As I listened to these stories, I realised that what stayed with me most was not the adversity itself, but how people chose to respond to it. These experiences have changed not only how I understand caregiving, but also how I understand strength. One caregiver, in particular, left a lasting impression on me. She was caring for her husband, who was living with early-stage dementia. Every day brought new misunderstandings, repeated conversations, and emotional conflicts. As his condition changed, so did the demands of caregiving. She often felt trapped, with little personal space and almost no time to care for herself. The emotional burden became so overwhelming that she sought psychiatric support. Despite everything, she never stopped trying. Rather than accepting that nothing could improve, she continued searching for ways to better care for both her husband and herself. She turned to social workers and psychiatrists for guidance, learning new ways to communicate with her husband. With the support of social workers…