At 8:12 PM on February 23, 2026—the 8th day of the Lunar New Year—we were still feeling the festive vibe when I received a WeChat message from a regular client, Ms. Li. She wanted to book an escort service for 10:00 AM the next day.
My first thought was that she needed an escort for a Shenzhen hospital, as we handle many cross-city requests. But her next message surprised me: she needed a Hong Kong elderly companion service.
“It’s the same address in Kwun Tong,” Ms. Li explained. “I need someone to accompany my mom downstairs to a Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) clinic. It’s about a 10-minute walk. On the way back, help her buy some groceries and take her back upstairs.”
I instantly remembered the address. Not long ago, Ms. Li had used our Shenzhen-Hong Kong Errand Service to deliver a large bag of fresh vegetables to her mother, who has mobility issues and rarely goes out.
Non-Medical Escort: Just an Arm to Lean On
Ms. Li specifically requested a female runner, mentioning the doctor’s appointment would only take about 15 minutes.
To be completely transparent, I told her, “Ms. Li, we currently don’t have certified medical escorts in Hong Kong.” While we provide highly professional medical staff for our Mainland China Medical Escort Services, our Hong Kong branch primarily focuses on lifestyle errands and basic assistance.
“Oh, we don’t need any medical advice,” Ms. Li quickly clarified. “My mom has just been feeling a bit dizzy the last two days. She mainly needs someone to hold onto when going up and down the stairs, just to ensure she doesn’t fall.”
Understanding the real need, I thought of Xiao Li, the kind-hearted girl who delivered the groceries last time. I asked Ms. Li if she’d be okay with Xiao Li taking the job, and she happily agreed.
The Hesitation: A 6th-Floor Walk-Up Apartment
However, when I relayed the request to Xiao Li, she hesitated.
“The grandma lives on the 6th floor of an old ‘Tong Lau’ (walk-up building) with no elevator,” Xiao Li voiced her concerns. “I don’t know her exact condition. Is she just frail, or completely unable to walk? What if she can’t make it up the stairs and I need to carry her?”
I completely understood her stress. Xiao Li is a petite girl. If the elderly lady couldn’t walk at all, she wouldn’t be able to carry her up six flights of stairs. Furthermore, since the grandma lives alone without family nearby, Xiao Li—not being a trained caregiver—was afraid of not knowing what to do in case of a medical emergency.
I honestly relayed Xiao Li’s worries to Ms. Li. Touched by our team’s responsibility and caution, Ms. Li immediately offered reassurance: “Please tell Xiao Li not to worry at all! No carrying is needed. My mom is just slightly dizzy and needs an arm for support to walk slowly. Plus, my mom really likes Xiao Li and specifically asked if that ‘nice young girl’ could come again.”
Hearing this, Xiao Li’s heart softened. She remembered the kind-faced grandma living alone in that old apartment. The thought of her solitary life made Xiao Li feel empathetic. What touched her the most was the memory of her last visit, when the grandma insisted on pressing a pack of cream cookies into her hands before she left.
“Okay, I’ll do it!” Xiao Li agreed.
The Trust Behind a Pack of Cookies
Before 10:00 AM the next day, Xiao Li arrived at the old building in Kwun Tong.
When she reached the 6th floor, the grandma’s eyes lit up with a huge smile. Xiao Li carefully supported the grandma, and they slowly made their way down the steep, narrow stairs step by step. A standard 10-minute walk took them nearly 20 minutes, but they chatted happily the whole way.
After the clinic visit, Xiao Li guided the grandma back to the building. Following Ms. Li’s instructions, she ran to the nearby wet market, bought lunch and fresh meat and vegetables, and then supported the grandma all the way back up to the 6th floor.
Before Xiao Li could leave, the grandma held her hand, insisting she stay for lunch.
“Grandma, I have an urgent errand to run next! I’ll come chat with you next time,” Xiao Li smiled, politely declining the warm offer.
Just before the door closed, like a magic trick, the grandma slipped another pack of cookies into Xiao Li’s hands.
Looking at the cookies, Xiao Li messaged me: “Climbing 6 floors was definitely tiring, but it felt like taking care of my own grandmother. My heart feels really warm.”
In this fast-paced world, many young people work far from home, leaving their aging parents alone in Hong Kong. What we provide is more than just an errand runner or a clinic escort; often, we act as the extended hands of caring children, bringing a little warmth and peace of mind to their elderly loved ones.
You need to log in to post a comment.
Log In