Once or twice a month, Cass Ng and her team of beauticians swap out their nail polish collection for tough scissors, nail files, and an electric drill.
Her initiative CHANGE, which stands for Caring Health Anywhere Nails Goal Elderly, offers free pedicures for low-income elderly people who cannot afford healthcare and do not have family to fall back on.
“We want to serve these people the most because they lack the love of others the most,” the 37-year-old said.
After three years of giving volunteer manicures, Ng was inspired to start her own social enterprise to help those unable to afford the city’s expensive private healthcare, often over 65 and on social benefits.
While Hong Kong has a public healthcare system, many complain they have to wait for long periods to be seen with various ailments getting worse.
One of those visiting Ng’s free clinic for the first time was Martin Sun, 71, who had been troubled by ingrowing toenails and fungal infections for years.
He describes that day’s treatment, a full pedicure, as a blessed relief. “If not, I would do it myself, bend down, take a deep breath and endure the pain,” he said.
Kwan Lung, 86, gave a thumbs-up and beamed during her visit to the clinic at the Kwai Chung community centre.
“The more they (the manicurists) come, the happier we old people are,” the grandmother said.
She described “sweating like it’s raining” when she tried her own pedicures before.
Although the day seems light-hearted, when the elderly don’t treat their fungal nail infections – the most common problem – they can face difficulties walking.
“Slowly, they might tend not to go out and will become lonelier,” she said. “If the nails are fixed, they feel more comfortable with their feet and can take a walk and chat with friends.”
She described how difficult it was to help one man who was particularly filthy. “When you manicure, the smell and level of dirtiness are very difficult to accept. But after six months to a year, his situation has changed.
“This service should not be just a small thing in community centres, but a service for people from all Hong Kong,” Ng said, adding that she hoped everyone would one day be set on equal footing.