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Smart Care Lab 4.0: VTC as Strategic Partner

Golden Age Foundation (GAF) has launched the “Smart Care Lab 4.0 — Bright Future Smart Ageing Care Community” to address the growing challenges of elderly care in Hong Kong through an innovative and sustainable eldercare model. VTC has been invited to serve as a strategic partner in this initiative.

This initiative is built on the foundation of digital technology and community engagement. Smart Care Workers as mentors will guide students in designing elderly care solutions and smart ageing products. Through home and community visits, students listen to the needs and feedbacks of elderly participants and their caregivers, gaining insights into real-life challenges such as living conditions, social isolation and health issues. The initiative provides schools with design-thinking training and fosters collaboration between enterprises and educational institutions. Its aim is to cultivate future young leaders for the ageing industry and unlock the potential of the golden-aged individuals to address the manpower shortage in the caregiving sector.

The Launch Ceremony took place on 8 November, officiated by Dr CHOI Yuk-lin, Secretary for Education, Mr HO Kai-ming, Under Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Dr Roy CHUNG, Honorary President of GAF and Founder and Chairman of Bright Future Charitable Foundation, Professor Rebecca CHOY YUNG, Founding Chair of GAF and Ms Jenny KO, VTC Academic Director of Student Development Discipline. Representatives from secondary schools, tertiary institutions, enterprises and social welfare organisations were also in attendance, along with Dr MAK Wai-kei, Head of Health and Life Sciences Discipline Office at the Hong Kong Institute of Vocational Education (Kwai Chung) and Lecturer Ms Esther LI.

According to projections by the Census and Statistics Department, the population aged 65 and above will increase from 1.64 million in 2023 to 2.67 million by 2043, representing 35% of the total. This initiative emphasises the establishment of community-based care model, addressing the challenges of an ageing population through cross-sectoral and cross-generational collaboration while promoting the development of the silver economy. It is expected to benefit over 5,300 individuals.

[Photo 1] Officiating guests at the Launch Ceremony of “Smart Care Lab 4.0”.

[Photo 2] Dr Roy CHUNG, Founder and Chairman of Bright Future Charitable Foundation (third from left), Professor Rebecca CHOY YUNG, Founding Chair of GAF (fourth from left) and Ms Jenny KO, VTC Academic Director of Student Development Discipline (fourth from right) take group photo with representatives from various organisations.

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