appConfigEntityId

bodyType

customContents

entityId

entityUuid

isVideo

articlePageQuery

article

articleSchemaContent

content

hooksArticlePageAdvertisementConfigArticle

hooksArticlePageFloatingButtonConfigArticle

appConfig

filter

json

liveArticle

Lo Hoi-ying

In the second of a five-part Health Matters wellness series on ageing in Hong Kong, Lo Hoi-ying examines rising social isolation among the elderly, its serious health risks and how activities and community support are helping seniors stay socially engaged.
For Lee Chor-kwan, an 89-year-old living alone in Hong Kong, mealtimes are often lonely.
But the highlight of his day is lunchtime, when he visits an elderly care home to eat with his 86-year-old wife, whom he met through an arranged marriage more than 60 years ago.
“I visit her every day and wheel her out for a stroll in the sun,” he said, adding that both of them celebrated their diamond anniversary over burgers last week.
Lee, who wears dentures, said he sometimes bought small treats to share with his wife when they got tired of meals served in the home, although they rarely ate out because they found the food served at restaurants too greasy.
For the meals he ate alone, Lee said he cooked them “as simply as possible”.
“I wake up every day at 4am to cook myself oatmeal for breakfast,” he said. “I usually cook instant noodles for dinner, or eat char siu buns.”
He added that he would also reheat leftovers from their meals at the home for the elderly if his wife did not finish her food.
“I am not picky when it comes to food. I eat everything,” he said.
But Lee admitted that other than choy sum and the occasional half-pound of char siu he bought from the roast meat shop, he did not eat much else.
Such basic dietary habits are common among the 188,500 elderly residents who live alone in Hong Kong.

But Bonnie Leung Wing-yan, a dietitian with the Hong Kong Community Dietitian Association, said that social isolation could increase the risk of malnutrition among the elderly, who sometimes kept their meals too simple.
“Usually they will do all their cooking in a single rice cooker, eating only oatmeal, milk and bananas for three meals a day,” she said.
“These are simple but not nutritious. They only eat to sustain life.”
Most elderly people who cooked only for themselves also prioritised familiarity over variety, sticking to oatmeal, steamed fish, macaroni and vegetables.
“For example, some like eating choy sum – and will eat choy sum for three meals a day, repeatedly,” she said.
“Or they think that having plain porridge is good for digestion, but there is not enough protein or nutrients.”
In some extreme cases, isolation might result in mental health problems such as depression. Some elderly people with dementia might even forget to eat, or mistakenly think that they have already eaten.
A 2025 study by the dietitian association found that one in five elderly people was at risk of malnutrition.
Among the 100 elderly surveyed, more than 80 per cent did not consume enough meat, while nearly 95 per cent did not eat enough dairy products, showing a “stark deficiency” in protein sources.
More than a third consumed enough vegetables, but only 10 per cent ate an adequate amount of fruit.
More than half of the respondents had high blood pressure, likely due to their low intake of fruits and vegetables that are rich in potassium.
This correlated directly with the high failure rates in strength tests and sarcopenia risk, Leung said, referring to the loss of muscle mass and strength with old age.




A test for muscle mass showed that nearly two-thirds of respondents failed to meet the handgrip strength standards for both hands, while more than 62 per cent could not complete five sit-to-stand repetitions within 12 seconds.
Another study of 613 elderly people in Hong Kong conducted in 2019 found that 30 per cent were at risk of malnutrition.
Symptoms of malnutrition included unintentional weight loss, loss of muscle mass in the limbs, fatigue or hair loss, Leung said.
Lee said that food prices were a concern and he bought char siu only sparingly.
To supplement their diet, Lee and his wife take vitamin B12, which helps prevent cognitive decline, neuropathy and anaemia.
To meet nutritional needs while managing the rising cost of living, Leung recommended chicken, tofu and beans as cheap sources of protein, while those with higher budgets could incorporate avocado, mixed nuts and nut butters into their diet.
UHT milk, cheaper egg varieties and frozen meat were possible alternatives to fresh produce for those who needed to save money, she added.
Leung also pointed out the common misconception among residents that drinking only the broth of Cantonese soups was sufficient, saying the elderly must also eat the ingredients to get maximum nutrition.
“Most of the nutrients, including dietary fibre and protein, remain in the ingredients, not the broth. They should consume both for the best results,” she said.
The dietitian added that due to some beliefs in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), some elderly avoided eating protein-rich foods such as eggs, which were believed to increase heat and dampness in the body, causing inflammation, indigestion and irritation.
According to Leung, getting elderly people who lived alone to socialise in the community was key to ensuring they ate a greater variety of food, and also helped social workers intervene early when problems arose – a key challenge recently identified by the government as a priority.

“Inviting them to join activities like cooking classes, where they sit down and enjoy the food they cooked with a nutritionist and have discussions about what they eat, would equip them with more nutrition knowledge,” she said.
“The meals they are familiar with lack variety and they are reluctant to change; we need to introduce them to new ingredients so they get a range of nutrients.”
She said that by having more meals with their families, the elderly would be encouraged to drink soup with nutrient-rich ingredients and eat a wider range of dishes, while loved ones could encourage them to eat better.
“When they come out and socialise, they might be more engaged in trying new things and have fewer apprehensions about widening their palate,” Leung said.
“If they live alone and do not participate in community events, we cannot spot them and intervene in time.”


Hong Kong woman, 80, loses HK$6 million to fake online investment expert

Top official to determine responsible department in complex 1823 cases

Bite-mark, DNA tests used to identify dogs after woman dies in suspected attack

Nearly 50% rise in drug seizures by Hong Kong customs in first half of year

Hong Kong society

‘They only eat to sustain life’: how does isolation shape Hong Kong’s elderly diets?

 Illustration: Brian Wang

Lee Chor-kuan, 89, and his wife enjoy a dim sum meal hosted by Maxim’s and the Hong Kong Council of Social Service for 100 elderly people and their families. Photo: Eugene Lee

Elderly residents at a lunch hosted by Maxim’s and the Hong Kong Council of Social Service in Tsuen Wan. Photo: Eugene Lee

An elderly woman dines at a dim sum restaurant in Tsuen Wan. Photo: Eugene Lee

How can Hong Kong age well?

Elderly pictured in Cheung Sha Wan. Photo: Jelly Tse

‘I’m lonely’: why do Hong Kong’s elderly feel isolated – and how can they be helped?

 Illustration: Lau Ka-kuen

For elderly couple Lau Moon-wing (left) and Chow Kam-shim, mornings often include yum cha with friends. Photo: Edmond So

A survey of 647 people aged 65 and above led by Professor Eliza Wong of the Chinese University of Hong Kong found that 50.4 per cent of elderly residents experienced social isolation. Photo: Jonathan Wong

Widow Law Wai-ho, 81, lives alone in a public housing flat in Cheung Sha Wan. Photo: Dickson Lee

News

Hong Kong

Health & Environment

Society

Ageing in Hong Kong – should you fear it?

How can Alzheimer’s patients in Hong Kong buy ‘more golden hours’ with family?

Illustration: Lau Ka-kuen

Maggie Lee says the dual advances in screening and treatment have renewed public interest, with more elderly residents seeking information and testing. Photo: Jonathan Wong

How can retirees beat rising healthcare costs in Hong Kong?

illustration: Lau Ka-kuen

Philip Kong was diagnosed with an enlarged prostate earlier this year and was set to pay HK$210,000 for surgery at the Hong Kong Sanatorium and Hospital. Photo: Jonathan Wong

Pamphlets advertising the Voluntary Health Insurance Scheme. Photo: Nora Tam

Clement Chan has said that a decade ago, many Hongkongers would have been wary of mainland medical services due to media coverage of blunders. Photo: Sun Yeung

Inside a paper coffin: how Hongkongers can prepare for the end of life

Regina Luk planned every detail of her farewell. Photo: Sun Yeung

Winnie Chan (left) of the Hong Kong Mediation Society with Elizabeth Chan of the Elder Mediation and Elder Law Academy. Photo: May Tse

Higher malnutrition risk among isolated elderly who stick to limited choices, but social interaction fosters better eating habits and helps meet nutrition needs, dietitian says


Higher malnutrition risk among isolated elderly who stick to limited choices, but social interaction fosters better eating habits and helps meet nutrition needs, dietitian says.


Healthy eating

Ageing society