The Government of the Macao Special Administrative Region devotes attention to disadvantaged families’ need for childcare services. The Government has introduced a scheme to prioritise distribution of full-day childcare places – available in Government-subsidised centres for children – for single-parent families; or for those families with a parent either experiencing challenges in terms of their physical health, or where a parent suffers from a chronic disease. The scheme aims to support families facing financial difficulties.

There are 58 kindergartens in Macao, providing an aggregate of approximately 10,000 places. The number is believed to be sufficient for community demand.

The Government strives to improve employment opportunities and general living conditions for vulnerable groups. The Community Employment Assistance Scheme is designed to help regarding the first topic. It supports those that might not feel well prepared to enter the labour market, by enabling them to serve the community on a transitional basis. The work experience they gain via the scheme, helps them prepare for regular employment in the labour market.

To support the beneficiaries of Social Welfare Bureau subsidies – and enhance their level of self-reliance – the Government provides, via its "Positive Life Programme”, employment-matching services and professional advice.

To ease the day-to-day burdens faced by underprivileged families, the Government has been implementing, since 2009, the “Short-term Food Assistance Programme”. It provides urgent support – in terms of foodstuffs – to those low-income families that are not already covered by the Government’s subsidy initiatives.

The Government is committed to addressing social issues arising from an ageing population, and has consistently optimised the design and available facilities at homes for the elderly. One of the latest elderly-care centres, at Ka Ho, Coloane, is now in operation and provides 211 places for those elderly people with the greatest care needs. With the Ka Ho facilities, Macao has now a total of 2,400 Government-subsidised places to care for the elderly.

The Ka Ho centre provides a wide range of services for the elderly or those with the greatest need for care. Services include: accommodation; meals; day care provision; healthcare; rehabilitation; social and recreational activities; palliative care; transport services; and specialised care for elderly people with dementia.

As part of efforts to raise community awareness regarding the dangers of drug abuse, the Government’s Healthy Life Education Centre offers programmes and fun-filled activities. These empower children to make safe and healthy choices now and later in life.

To develop Macao as an easy-access urban environment, the Government provides video-interpretation services in sign language, to enhance information available to those that have impaired hearing.

The Government has since 2005 granted allowances to the elderly, as a demonstration of its care for Macao’s senior citizens.