TUESDAY, OCTOBER 7, 1986
ELDERLY SHOULD BE ENCOURAGED TO JOIN GROUPS
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OLD PEOPLE SHOULD PARTICIPATE IN GROUP ACTIVITIES OR VISIT SOCIAL CENTRES FOR THE ELDERLY TO EXCHANGE IDEAS AND EXPERIENCES WITH OTHERS SO AS TO KEEP UP INTEREST IN THINGS AROUND THEM, THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE, MRS ANSON CHAN, SAID TODAY (TUESDAY),
MRS CHAN WAS ADDRESSING PARTICIPANTS IN THE EIGHTH +PARTY FOR A THOUSAND AGED+ ORGANISED BY THE SHUN TAK FRATERNAL ASSOCIATION AT THE CITY HALL.
+PARTICIPATION IN MORE ACTIVITIES CAN HELP REMOVE UNNECESSARY WORRIES AND PRESSURE AND CAN LEAD TO A FULLER AND MORE SATISFYING LIFE WHICH WILL BE A GREAT HELP TO OLD PEOPLE IN MAINTAINING THEIR MENTAL HEALTH,+ SHE SAID.
TAKING PART IN RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES, LEARNING NEW SKILLS, DEVELOPING NEW HOBBIES AND DOING VOLUNTEER WORK WERE POSITIVE WAYS IN WHICH OLD PEOPLE COULD SPEND THEIR TIME.
ANOTHER WAY TO MAINTAIN MENTAL HEALTH WAS FOR THEM TO RECOGNISE AND ACCEPT CHANGES IN THE IR ROLES IN SOCIETY AND THE FAMILY AND TO BE TOLERANT OF OTHERS' VIEWPOINTS, SHE ADDED.
TURNING TO ELDERLY SINGLE PEOPLE AND THOSE LIVING IN SHARED ACCOMMODATION IN PUBLIC HOUSING ESTATES, MRS CHAN SAID THEY DESERVED SPECIAL CARE AND ATTENTION FROM THE PUBLIC.
+THEY ARE ALL THE MORE LONELY AND HELPLESS IF THEY CANNOT ADJUST TO THE ENVIRONMENT OR CANNOT GET ALONG WITH OTHERS SHARING A FLAT,+ SHE SAID.
SHE SAID SHE HOPED THAT VOLUNTEER AND COMMUNITY ORGANISATIONS COULD VISIT THESE OLD PEOPLE REGULARLY, ORGANISE RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES FOR THEM AND ENCOURAGE THEM TO JOIN SOCIAL CENTRES.
+NEIGHBOURS, VOLUNTEER WORKERS AND SOCIAL CENTRE STAFF SHOULD PAY SPECIAL CARE AND ATTENTION TO THESE OLD PEOPLE AND REFER THOSE WHO HAVE PROBLEMS TO THE FAMILY SERVICES CENTRES OF EITHER THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT OR VOLUNTARY AGENCIES FOR ASSISTANCE,+ SHE SAID.
IN ADDITION TO MATERIAL ASSISTANCE, SOCIAL WORKERS WOULD PROVIDE COUNSELLING SERVICE TO HELP OLD PEOPLE TO LIVE TOGETHER HARMONIOUSLY AND TO RESOLVE THEIR DIFFERENCES IN ORDER TO PREVENT UNHAPPY INCIDENTS.
MRS CHAN ALSO PAID TRIBUTE TO THE SHUN TAK FRATERNAL ASSOCIATION FOR ORGANISING MEANINGFUL EVENTS TO PROMOTE THE WELL-BEING OF THE ELDERLY.
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