A
s kids, we felt invincible
and viewed our parents in
the same way. But, as time
and age creep up on us
all, there may come a stage when your
parents, wherever they live, require
extra care. Care can certainly be
arranged for elderly loved ones in their
home country, but have you considered
having them come to Hong Kong?
While those here on employment
or study visas (or other visas that have
limits of stay) may only apply to have
a spouse or child under the age of 18
join them as dependants, permanent
Hong Kong residents can apply
for a parent – aged 60 or older – to
live here as a dependant, provided
certain criteria are met. And if they’re
dependants, that means your senior
parents qualify for our high-quality
and affordable healthcare.
Interested? The first step is an
application to the Immigration
Department (
to
seek a dependant visa for residence
for your elders. Don’t forget that
processing the application to sponsor
your senior will take time and involve
plenty of paperwork, as is usual here!
Once the visa has been granted, your
parents may apply for a Hong Kong
Identity Card.
Having a HKID entitles elders to
access public health facilities. The
Department of Health has a number
of dedicated Elderly Health Centres
located across Hong Kong, and also
offers visiting health teams. These
Centres provide comprehensive
primary healthcare covering
assessment, counselling, treatment and
education for elders aged 65 and above.
Tax allowances for dependants
may be claimed if either the senior
resides in your home or you contribute
a certain sum towards maintenance.
Alternatively, there may be entitlement
to claim for deduction of “elderly
residential care expenses” paid to a
care home.
Elderly residents (aged 65 or over)
can also apply for a Senior Citizen
Card, which acts as a generally
recognised proof of age and affords
access to concessions, discounts or
Would a move to Hong Kong be the best solution to your ageing parents’
rising healthcare costs?
Gillian Johnston
investigates.
Sponsoring seniors
special services offered by Government
departments and some companies.
As if our public transport wasn’t
enough of a bargain compared to most
international cities, elders (aged 65 or
over) can buy a special Octopus card
that gets them fare concessions on the
usual modes of transport, including
free Star Ferry sailings. They’ll also
be eligible to use designated seats on
trains and buses – no hanging on to a
pole like the rest of us!
If you qualify, the decision to move
your seniors here – either full- or
part-time – will undoubtedly depend
on a number of factors. Consider the
amount of assistance they require,
whether they would live with you
or independently, and the level of
healthcare needed. You (and they)
may feel more comfortable arranging
care back in their home country for
familiarity, even bearing in mind
logistical factors. But, with healthcare
costs skyrocketing in many Western
countries, it might just make sense
for you and your family to consider a
move East.
December 2014
91
