11
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 1979
PROPOSAL TO ENLIST ELDERLY PEOPLE IN ORGANISED VOLUNTEER SERVICES ******
THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD ENLIST HONG KONG'S ELDERLY PEOPLE.
A GOOD PROPORTION OF WHOM ARE PHYSICALLY FIT AND MENTALLY ALERT, TO TAKE PART IN ORGANISED VOLUNTEER SERVICES, DR. THE HON. HO KAM-FAI SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL THIS (THURSDAY) AFTERNOON.
THE BENEFITS TO THE ELDERLY VOLUNTEERS ARE MULTIPLE, HE SAID I +THEY ACQUIRE A NEW SENSE OF INDEPENDENCE AND SATISFACTION, THUS FOSTERING THE DEVELOPMENT OF SELF-CONFIDENCE AND SELF-ESTEEM, AND GAIN INSIGHT INTO THE AGEING PROCESS AS A RESULT OF HELPING OTHERS TO OVERCOME THEIR PROBLEMS.
+MORE IMPORTANT, THEY ATTAIN A FEELING OF SOCIAL USEFULNESS AND PERSONAL WORTH. THE VERY FACT THAT THEY PROVIDE A USEFUL AND MUCH-NEEDED SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY IS THE MOST POTENT INSTRUMENT THERE IS TO SHATTER THE PREJUDICE THAT THEY ARE A BURDEN RATHER THAN A RESOURCE TO THE SOCIETY.+
DR. HO POINTED OUT THAT THE SERVICES TO THE ELDERLY OUTLINED IN THE WHITE PAPER ON SOCIAL WELFARE, THOUGH ESSENTIAL FOR KEEPING THEM IN THE COMMUNITY, HAVE THE EFFECT OF REDUCING THEM INTO +PASSIVE RECIPIENTS OF SERVICES, CONSUMERS OF RESOURCES AND DEPENDENTS OF OUR SOCIAL SYSTEM.+
+MODERN MEDICINE ADDS YEARS TO LIFE- BUT A CARING GOVERNMENT ADDS LIFE TO YEARS, HE OBSERVED.
HE SUGGESTED THREE AREAS IN WHICH THE ELDERLY CAN PARTICIPATE IN PRODUCTIVE AND MEANINGFUL ACTIVITIES. FIRSTLY, THEY COULD WORK WITH CHILDREN IN A VARIETY OF INSTITUTIONS. THEY CAN ATTEND TO CHILDREN IN DAY CARE CENTRES, COMFORT THE SICK IN THE PAEDIATRIC WARDS, TEACH CHILDREN WITH SPEECH DEFECTS TO SPEAK AND HELP THE BLIND CHILDREN WALK WITH CANES. THEY CAN ALSO HELP TO FEED THE PHYSICALLY HANDICAPPED, BATHE AND DRESS THE MENTALLY RETARDED AND TELL STORIES TO THE ABANDONED AND NEGLECTED.
SECONDLY, THEY COULD RUN A VARIETY OF ERRANDS FOR OTHER ADULTS WHO ARE INCAPABLE OF DOING THE CHORES THEMSELVES, +FOR INSTANCE, THEY COULD TAKE AN ACTIVE PART IN THE MEALS-ON-WHEELS SERVICE FOR THE ELDERLY CRIPPLED, GO SHOPPING FOR THEIR AILING COUNTERPARTS, SEW AND MEND, READ AND WRITE LETTERS FOR THE ILLITERATE, OR ASSIST YOUNG MOTHERS TO TAKE CARE OF THE IR NEW-BORN BABIES.+
+THIRDLY, THEY COULD VISIT THE SICK IN HOSPITALS AND HOMES, CHEER UP THE DEPRESSED, ENCOURAGE THE INTROVERTED TO SOCIALISE OR SIMPLY PROVIDE COMPANIONSHIP TO THE ELDERLY, DETACHED PERSONS,+ DR. HO SAID.
SOME FORM OF MACHINERY WOULD BE REQUIRED TO RECRUIT THEM, PROVIDE THEM WITH SOME BASIC SKILL AND KNOWLEDGE, MATCH THE PARTICULAR ASSIGNMENT WITH THE IR APTITUDE, AND PROVIDE SUPERVISION WHEREVER NECESSARY.
/HE CALLED