A vocational skills competition for elderly caregivers from Zhaoqing, Hong Kong, and Macao, together with a forum on the high-quality development of elderly care services in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, recently concluded in Zhaoqing, Guangdong Province.
The vocational skills competition for elderly caregivers concludes in Zhaoqing
The event brought together 10 contestants from Hong Kong and Macao and 20 participants from Zhaoqing, showcasing the professionalism and expertise of a new generation of elderly care workers. Polishing practical skills through competitions has become one of Zhaoqing's key approaches to cultivating elderly care talent.
Since the beginning of 2025, Zhaoqing has rolled out targeted training programs for different groups, including elderly care instructors, university students, and frontline caregivers, gradually building a comprehensive talent development system for the sector.
The city has also introduced an innovative "one exam, three certificates" training model for elderly caregivers. Under this model, trainees only need to take one exam to obtain professional qualification certificates recognized in Guangdong, Hong Kong, and Macao, allowing them to work across the three regions. The first exam recorded a pass rate of 84%, and more than 20% of participants expressed interest in pursuing careers in Hong Kong or Macao.
Zhaoqing has also released three group standards under the "Nanyue Housecraft (南粤家政)" elderly care pilot program, namely Training Standards for Cognitive Impairment Caregivers, Assessment Standards for Cognitive Impairment Caregivers, and Specifications for Training of Elderly Care Instructors. These standards incorporate professional practices as well as legal and regulatory requirements from Hong Kong and Macao, helping narrow service gaps among the three regions and contributing local experience to the integrated development of elderly care services in the Greater Bay Area.
Moving forward, Zhaoqing will continue to strengthen exchanges and cooperation with Hong Kong and Macao in the elderly care sector, aiming to provide higher-quality retirement services for senior residents across the Greater Bay Area.
Reporter: Liu Yuheng
Photo: Liu Yuheng
