XN000022-1986-11-13 — Page 10

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 1986

ELDERLY URGED TO REMAIN SOCIALLY ACTIVE

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BY TAKING PART IN MORE SOCIAL ACTIVITIES, ELDERLY PEOPLE WILL BE ABLE TO ENRICH THEIR DAILY LIFE AND MAINTAIN A CHEERFUL AND CONTENTED OUTLOOK, THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE, MRS EVELYN DOE, SAID TODAY (THURSDAY).

IT WOULD ALSO HELP THEM, SHE ADDED, TO ENHANCE THE IR ADAPTABILITY TO SOCIETY, TO BUILD UP HARMONIOUS INTERPERSONAL RELATIONS AND TO ENJOY COMMUNITY LIFE.

MRS DOE WAS OFFICIATING AT THE OPENING CEREMONY OF A SPECIAL CANTONESE OPERA PERFORMANCE IN HONOUR OF THE ELDERLY ORGANISED BY THE ENDEAVOURES AT THE NORTH POINT KAIFONG HALL,

SHE NOTED THAT THERE WERE AT PRESENT 104 SOCIAL CENTRES FOR THE ELDERLY IN THE TERRITORY, WHICH APART FROM PROVIDING A GOOD RENDEZVOUS, ALSO ORGANISED VARIOUS ACTIVITIES AND INTEREST GROUPS FOR THE ELDERLY.

IN ADDITION, THERE WERE MANY COMMUNITY ORGANISATIONS AND VOLUNTEER GROUPS WHICH CARED VERY MUCH ABOUT THE NEEDS OF THE ELDERLY AND ORGANISED FUNCTIONS REGULARLY TO PROMOTE RESPECT FOR THE ELDERLY, MRS DOE SAID, CITING THE ENDEAVOURES AS ONE OF THESE ORGANISATIONS.

SHE POINTED OUT THAT ELDERLY PEOPLE WHO HAD TO LIVE APART FROM THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS DESERVED EVEN MORE OF OUR ATTENTION AND CARE.

+THE OBJECTIVE OF PUBLISHING THE CODE OF PRACTICE FOR PRIVATE HOMES FOR THE ELDERLY IS TO ASSIST THESE HOMES TO ATTAIN THE BASIC STANDARD OF SERVICE, SHE SAID.

+ UNDERLYING ALL THE RECOMMENDATIONS IS A CONVICTION THAT CARE FOR THE ELDERLY INCLUDES BOTH RESIDENTIAL CARE AND SOCIAL CARE.

+ THE PRIMARY OBJECTIVE IS TO PROMOTE THEIR PHYSICAL PSYCHOLOGICAL AND SOCIAL WELL-BEING AS WELL AS RESPECT FOR THEIR FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS,+ MRS DOE ADDED.

SHE STRESSED THAT GROUP AND INDIVIDUAL ACTIVITIES SHOULD BE ORGANISED IN THE HOMES FOR THE AGED TO MINIMISE THE INSTITUTIONALISED ATMOSPHERE AND TO PROVIDE A MORE HOME-LIKE ENVIRONMENT FOR THE ELDERLY.

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