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SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 1981
EXPERTS AT THE CONFERENCE NOTED THAT EFFORTS WERE BEING MADE TO ESTABLISH A PROPER BALANCE BETWEEN THE ALTERNATIVES WITHIN EACH SYSTEM OF CARE IN ORDER TO CREATE FLEXIBLE SERVICES FOUNDED ON THE INDIVIDUAL NEEDS OF THE ELDERLY.
MR MUI AND DR NG YAU-YUNG, CONSULTANT GERIATRICIAN OF THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT, REPRESENTED HONG KONG AT THE MEETING, WHICH WAS ORGANISED BY WHO'S REGIONAL OFFICE FOR THE WESTERN PACIFIC AND WAS HELD FROM AUGUST 18 TO 24.
MR MUI SAID MOST OF THE 15 EXPERTS ATTENDING THE CONFERENCE WERE MEDICAL STAFF.
+APART FROM SOCIOLOGIST FROM JAPAN, I WAS THE ONLY SOCIAL WORKER AT THE MEETING, HE SAID. +I WAS ABLE TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE DISCUSSIONS ON THE PROBLEM OF HEALTH CARE FOR THE AGED FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF A SOCIAL WORKER.+
+WE HAD A VERY USEFUL EXCHANGE OF VIEWS AND IDEAS AND HAVE LEARNED A GREAT DEAL FROM THE MEETING, HE CONTINUED.
+SOME OF THE SERVICES FOR THE ELDERLY PROVIDED IN OTHER TERRITORIES ARE VERY INTERESTING AND WE WILL STUDY THEM IN GREATER DETAIL TO SEE IF THEY HAVE APPLICATION IN HONG KONG, MR MUI SAID.
+FOR EXAMPLE, IN AUSTRALIA THEY HAVE STARTED SOMETHING CALLED PRE-RETIREMENT COURSES FOR THE ELDERLY. THESE COURSES ARE DESIGNED TO GIVE PEOPLE ABOUT TO RETIRE MORE INFORMATION ON SUCH THINGS AS THE PHYSICAL PROBLEMS OF AGING AND ADJUSTMENT TO LIFE DURING RETIREMENT.+
MR MUI SAID THE CONFERENCE HAD THREE SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES:
* TO REVIEW THE CURRENT STATUS OF WELL-BEING AND
HEALTH CARE OF THE ELDERLY IN COUNTRIES OF
THE REGION-
* TO DETERMINE PRIORITY NEEDS IN THE AREA OF
HEALTH CARE AS A BASIS FOR PROGRAMME DEVELOPMENT-
* TO DEVELOP GUIDELINES FOR WHO AND COUNTRY
COLLABORATION IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF A COMMUNITY-BASED PROGRAMME ON HEALTH CARE OF THE ELDERLY WITH EMPHASIS ON THE PROMOTION OF HEALTH AND PREVENTION OF DISEASES.
MR MUI SAID THE WORKING GROUP HAD MADE A NUMBER OF RECOMMENDATIONS TO WHO ON MANPOWER, SERVICES AND EDUCATION AND TRAINING. THE RECOMMENDATIONS WILL BE CIRCULATED TO MEMBER COUNTRIES LATER FOR THE IR INFORMATION AND REFERENCE.
THE MANILA CONFERENCE WAS ATTENDED BY REPRESENTATIVES FROM EIGHT TERRITORIES.
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