The Social Welfare Department announced today that starting from May 6, two additional residential care homes for the elderly in Foshan and Shenzhen will become recognised service providers under the Residential Care Services Scheme in Guangdong.

Senior citizens who are waitlisted for subsidised residential care services in the Central Waiting List for Subsidised Long Term Care Services may contact their responsible workers to file an application.

The two newly added care homes, which both provide care and attention places, are operated under partnerships formed by Hong Kong private organisations with experience and satisfactory track records in providing subsidised residential care services in Hong Kong, and Mainland elderly service operators.

With the two care homes in Shenzhen and Zhaoqing already under the Guangdong scheme, there will be a total of four care homes, offering more options for seniors on the central waiting list.

The Social Welfare Department added that is exploring expanding the Residential Care Services Scheme to include care homes solely operated by Mainland entities this year, and that liaison with relevant departments in the Mainland cities in the Greater Bay Area is in progress.