XN000022-1980-09-18 — Page 6

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 1980

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VOLUNTEER SCHEME TO HELP THE ELDERLY

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THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT HAS LAUNCHED A THREE-MONTH VOLUNTEER SCHEME, +CARING FOR THE AGED+, UNDER WHICH OLD PEOPLE ARE VISITED, BEFRIENDED AND HELPED AT HOME.

THE SCHEME IS ORGANISED BY THE DEPARTMENT'S WESTERN DISTRICT COMMUNITY CENTRE AS PART OF ITS COMMUNITY PROJECTS FOR THE ELDERLY IN THE DISTRICT.

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT SAID TODAY (THURSDAY) THE SCHEME AIMS AT REACHING OUT TO OLD PEOPLE, HELPING THEM WHERE NECESSARY AND STUDYING THEIR SOCIAL NEEDS.

AT THE SAME TIME, HE SAID, THEY ARE ENCOURAGED TO TAKE A MORE ACTIVE PART IN THE ACTIVITIES ORGANISED FOR THE ELDERLY IN THE COMMUNITY CENTRE.

UNDER THE SCHEME, 32 STUDENTS AND YOUNG WORKERS VOLUNTARILY GIVE UP THEIR FREE TIME TO PAY REGULAR VISITS TO 100 OLD PEOPLE OVER 65 YEARS OF AGE, HE SAID.

THE MAJORITY OF THE OLD PEOPLE COVERED BY THE SCHEME LIVE ALONE AND ARE RECEIVING SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS, HE ADDED.

THE SPOKESMAN SAID THAT DURING THE VISITS, THE VOLUNTEERS MAKE FRIENDS WITH THE ELDERLY, PROVIDE HOME HELP WHERE NECESSARY AND GET TO KNOW MORE ABOUT THEIR LIFE.

+ON COMPLETION OF THE SCHEME BY THE END OF THIS MONTH, THE INFORMATION COLLECTED DURING THE VISITS WILL BE ANALYSED,

+THE ANALYSIS WILL SERVE AS A BASIS FOR REVIEWING AND PLANNING SOCIAL ACTIVITIES TO BETTER MEET THE NEEDS OF THE ELDERLY, HE SAID.

HE POINTED OUT THAT SOCIAL INTEGRATION OF THE ELDERLY WITHIN THE COMMUNITY WAS IMPORTANT, SINCE IT WAS ONLY THROUGH A CONTINUOUS INVOLVEMENT IN COMMUNITY LIFE THAT OLD PEOPLE COULD RETAIN THEIR SELF-ESTEEM, RESPECT AND SENSE OF BELONGING.

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