SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 1978
SOCIAL CENTRES ESSENTIAL TO THE ELDERLY ******
A SENIOR SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT OFFICIAL SAID TODAY OLD PEOPLE'S SOCIAL CENTRES ARE OF GREAT VALUE IN ENABLING THE ELDERLY TO MAINTAIN THE IR SOCIAL LIFE AND OBTAIN A SENSE OF FULFILMENT.
OFFICIATING AT THE OPENING CEREMONY OF THE LUTHERAN CENTRE FOR THE AGED AT CHOI HUNG ESTATE, MRS. ROSE GOODSTADT, HEAD OF THE DEPARTMENT'S ELDERLY SERVICES DIVISION, SPOKE OF THE VARIOUS ROLES THAT SOCIAL CENTRES PLAY IN ENRICHING THE LIVES OF OLD PEOPLE.
+APART FROM SERVING AS CONVENIENT FOCAL POINTS FOR EDUCATIONAL AND RECREATIONAL_PROGRAMMES, THE CENTRES ALSO PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES AND ENCOURAGEMENT FOR THE ELDERLY TO TAKE PART IN SERVICES FOR THE LOCAL COMMUNITY, SHE SAID.
MRS. GOODSTADT SAID SUCH ORGANISED VOLUNTARY SERVICE IS NOT ONLY A MEANINGFUL OCCUPATION FOR RETIRED PEOPLE BUT THE PARTICIPATION IN COMMUNITY AFFAIRS WOULD ALSO HELP DISPELL THE FEELING OF ISOLATION AND FILL THE PSYCHOLOGICAL VACUUM EXPERIENCED BY A MAJORITY OF THE AGING POPULATION.
+VOLUNTARY SERVICES BY THE ELDERLY, IF ADEQUATELY DEVELOPED, CAN BECOME AN ESSENTIAL CONTRIBUTION IN WELFARE SERVICES,+ SHE ADDED.
CITING EXAMPLES, MRS. GOODSTADT SAID TEAMS OF OLD PEOPLE FROM EXISTING SOCIAL CENTRES ARE NOW ENGAGED IN VALUABLE SERVICES RANGING FROM INTEREST GROUPS FOR YOUNGSTERS, TUTORIAL CLASSES FOR STUDENTS, VISITS TO HOSPITALS AND AGED HOMES TO HOME HELP SERVICE FOR THE HANDICAPPED.
+THE NEED FOR THESE CENTRES BECOME MORE APPARENT AS SOCIAL CHANGES AND OTHER PRESSURES BRING ABOUT THE BREAKDOWN OF TRADITIONAL FAMILY TIES, THUS COMPELLING MORE OLD PEOPLE TO LOOK OUTSIDE FOR LEISURELY PURSUITS AND SOCIAL ACTIVITIES,+ SHE SAID.
MRS. GOODSTADT NOTED THAT THE GOVERNMENT HAD RECOGNISED THE NEED FOR THIS KIND OF FACILITY, AND THE LONG-TERM GOAL OF SETTING UP A SOCIAL CENTRE FOR EVERY 20,000 OF THE POPULATION, HAD BEEN INCLUDED IN THE GREEN PAPER ON SERVICES FOR THE ELDERLY PUBLISHED LATE LAST YEAR.
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HONG KONG SYNOD FOR
SHE THANKED THE LUTHERAN CHURCH THE IR CONTRIBUTION IN THIS SERVICE. IT HAS BEEN OPERATING ANOTHER SOCIAL CENTRE IN WONG TAI SIN SINCE 1974.
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