XN000022-1977-12-08 — Page 10

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 8, 1977

CARING COMMUNITY - VITAL TO THE ELDERLY

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THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE, MR. THOMAS LEE, SAID TODAY (THURSDAY) THE GOVERNMENT'S CONCERN FOR THE ELDERLY AND MAKING PUBLIC ITS INTENTION TO DO MORE FOR THEM WILL SERVE TO ENCOURAGE YOUNG PEOPLE TO DEVELOP A +POSITIVE, HELPFUL AND RESPECTFUL+ ATTITUDE TOWARDS THE OLD.

SPEAKING AT THE ANNUAL SPEECH DAY OF THE CHEUNG CHUK SHAN COLLEGE, MR. LEE NOTED THAT THIS WAS MORE IMPORTANT THAN JUST THE PUBLICATION OF THE GREEN PAPER BECAUSE ONLY WHEN THE YOUNG PEOPLE ACQUIRED THIS KIND OF ATTITUDE COULD THERE BE A HOPE TO HAVE A COMMUNITY WHICH CARES'.

MR. LEE SAID: IT HAS OFTEN BEEN EMPHASISED THAT THE GOVERNMENT AND VOLUNTARY AGENCIES COULD ONLY ACT AS THE FORMAL PROVIDERS' OF SOCIAL SERVICES FOR THE ELDERLY, WHILE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF SUCH SERVICES MUST RELY ON THE ASSISTANCE OF A CARING COMMUNITY'.+

MR. LEE SAID THAT YOUNG PEOPLE BEING THE ENERGETIC MEMBERS OF OUR SOCIETY COULD BE THE BASIC STRATA UPON WHICH TO SET ABOUT FOSTERING THE CONCEPT.

HE POINTED OUT THAT SERVICES THAT THE COMMUNITY COULD PARTICIPATE IN PROVIDING FOR OLD PEOPLE INCLUDED HOME HELP SERVICE WHICH RENDERED DOMESTIC HELP FOR THOSE WHO COULD NOT DEPEND ON THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS, AND SERVICES IN THE FORM OF HOME MANAGEMENT, PERSONAL CARE, PREPARATION OR DELIVERY OF MEALS, LAUNDRY AND ESCORTING FOR MEDICAL CONSULTATION.

APART FROM THE COMMUNITY SUPPORT SERVICES, MR. LEE SAID THAT YOUNG PEOPLE COULD ALWAYS ASSIST IN RUNNING SOCIAL AND RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES FOR THE OLD PEOPLE SUCH AS GAMES DAY, OUTINGS AND BIRTHDAY PARTIES ORGANISED BY SOCIAL CLUBS AND SOCIAL CENTRES.

+ IN CASE YOU FIND THAT YOU ARE NOT ATTRACTED TO THESE TYPES OF SERVICE, YOU CAN ALWAYS FIND MEANS TO SHOW YOUR INTEREST IN OLD PEOPLE'S WELFARE BY PAYING THEM VISITS AT THE IR HOMES. EVEN HELPING THEM ACROSS THE ROAD, OR SHOWING THEM THE WAY, OR BEING HELPFUL WHEN HELP IS NEEDED, ARE GESTURES THAT WILL WARM THEIR HEARTS.+

FOR OLD PEOPLE LIVING WITHIN THE FAMILY, MR. LEE EMPHASISED THAT THEY DESERVED EQUAL, IF NOT MORE, CARE AND ATTENTION.

+LIVING UNDER THE SAME ROOF, YOU ARE GIVEN THE BEST OPPORTUNITIES TO EXPRESS YOUR CONCERN AND RESPECT, HE ADDED.

TURNING

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