XN000022-1978-10-11 — Page 35

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 11,

1978

33

FAMILY LIFE EDUCATION AND THE ELDERLY

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A SENIOR SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT OFFICIAL TODAY SUGGESTED FAMILY LIFE EDUCATION AS A MEASURE TO PREVENT THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE FEELINGS OF SOLITUDE AND INSECURITY EXPERIENCED EY A MAJORITY OF THE AGING POPULATION.

SPEAKING AT THE LUNCHEON MEETING OF THE LIONS CLUB OF THE PEAK THIS (WEDNESDAY) AFTERNOON, MRS. HENRIETTA CHEN, PRINCIPAL SOCIAL WELFARE OFFICER IN CHARGE OF FAMILY LIFE EDUCATION, SAID THAT A HARMONIOUS, HOMELY ENVIRONMENT WAS ESSENTIAL FOR THE GRADUAL ADJUSTMENT OF THE ELDERLY TO THE PHYSICAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL CHANGES OF OLD AGE.

SHE STRESSED THAT FAMILY LIFE EDUCATION, A COMMUNITY- WIDE PROGRAMME AIMED AT STRENGTHENING THE STRUCTURE AND FUNCTIONS OF THE FAMILY, WAS EQUALLY IMPORTANT TO THE YOUNG AND OLD.

EXPLAINING THE COMMON CHARACTERISTICS OF THE ELDERLY, THE TARGET GROUP OF THIS MONTH'S FAMILY LIFE EDUCATION CAMPAIGN, MRS. CHEN SAID THAT SIGNS OF PHYSICAL FRA ILTY, FAILING MEMORY, NARROWING SOCIAL CIRCLE, DWINDLING ECONOMIC RESOURCES AND LOSS OF A LIFE-LONG CAREER WOULD EASILY CULTIVATE IN AN UNPREPARED INDIVIDUAL A GROWING SENSE OF FEAR AND ISOLATION.

+TO FILL THE PSYCHOLOGICAL VACUUM' OF THOSE WHO RETIRED, AND TO MAKE LIFE HAPPIER FOR THE ELDERLY POPULATION IN GENERAL, STRENUOUS EFFORTS SHOULD BE MADE BY EVERY MEMBER IN THE FAMILY, SHE SAID.

SHE POINTED OUT THAT EARLY PREPARATION FOR THE NATURAL PHYSICAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL CHANGES OF AGING TOGETHER WITH ENCOURAGEMENT AND GUIDANCE FOR THE CULTIVATION OF LEISURELY PURSUITS WOULD GO A LONG WAY TO ERADICATE THIS UNSETTL ING FEELING AND AT THE SAME TIME ENRICH OLD PEOPLE'S DAILY LIFE.

+WITH REGARD TO THE RE-DEFINITION OF VALUES FOR THE ELDERLY, FAMILY LIFE EDUCATION WILL SERVE TO REAFFIRM THE ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITY OF THE OLDER GENERATION BOTH WITHIN THE FAMILY AND IN THE COMMUNITY, SHE SAID.

MRS. CHEN POINTED OUT THAT ELDERLY MEMBERS, WITH THE IR WISDOM AND WEALTH OF EXPERIENCE, COULD MAKE TREMENDOUS CONTRIBUTION TO HOUSEHOLD ACTIVITIES AS WELL AS TO VOLUNTARY WELFARE WORK.

+APART FRON