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The Hospital Authority has also reached out to mobilise community support for elderly people at risk of hospitalisation.
New initiatives include the community-based geriatric assessment teams and clinics as well as community psycho-geriatric teams to provide a more structured approach in the provision of outreach medical services and support for welfare institutions.
At the operational level, the Government is working towards a closer but managed interface between healthcare personnel from different disciplines and sectors.
Mrs Fok noted that the growing degree of community involvement was encouraging. For example, self-help support groups for elderly citizens with similar health concerns have been organised at the Nam Shan Elderly Health Centre.
"Through counselling and group activities, participants are informed of the basis of health risks and disease causation as well as equipped with the necessary skills and support to resist social pressure to conform to unhealthy living," she said.
"To ensure continuity of care for discharged elderly patients, close collaboration with carers assumes prime importance."
Another major initiative to foster community participation is the development of volunteer services in Hospital Authority hospitals through which volunteers acquire an understanding of health as they offer their services to those in need.
Another vivid demonstration of intersectoral co-operation and community partnership in health is the organisation of health education programmes and health checks in social centres for the elderly operated by non-governmental organisations.
The Secretary said these projects and a whole range of other health promotional activities initiated by different healthcare sectors had benefitted many elderly citizens.
"It is our intention that these activities should continue to flourish to cater for the varying needs of our elderly people," she stated.
Mrs Fok also noted that the first elderly health centre which was specifically targeting healthy individuals aged 65 and above had commenced operation at the Nam Shan Estate since May last year.
The second and third centres will be operational in 1995-96 while the others are in the pipeline.