XN000022-1987-06-24 — Page 50

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WEDNESDAY, JUNE 24, 1987

WAYS TO MEET SOCIAL NEEDS OF ELDERLY

THE 13 DISTRICT OFFICES OF THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT WILL BE MOBILISING YOUTH VOLUNTEERS TO VISIT THE ELDERLY SINGLETONS LIVING

IN THEIR RESPECTIVE DISTRICT, THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE, MRS ELIZABETH WONG, SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

DEPARTMENT

SHE DISCLOSED THAT THIS FUNCTION, TO BE CALLED "SOCIAL WELFARE 1987 CONCERN VISIT BY YOUTH VOLUNTEERS FOR ELDERLY SINGLETONS", WOULD BE LAUNCHED IN AUGUST.

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MRS WONG WAS ADDRESSING THE PARTICIPANTS OF THE "PARTY FOR A THOUSAND AGED" HOSTED BY THE SHUN TAK FRATERNAL ASSOCIATION AT THE CITY HALL CONCERT HALL.

"IT IS HOPED THAT THROUGH THESE VISITS, OUR YOUNG PEOPLE WILL ACQUIRE A DEEPER UNDERSTANDING OF THE LIVES AND THE NEEDS OF THE ELDERLY AND BRING TO THEM THE MESSAGE OF CONCERN, CARE AND LOVE, SHE SAID.

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MRS WONG ALSO LOOKED AT HOW THE SOCIAL AND RECREATIONAL NEEDS OF THE AGED COULD BE CATERED FOR BY THE ELDERLY THEMSELVES, BY THEIR FAMILIES, BY THE COMMUNITY AND BY THE GOVERNMENT.

SHE SAID THE ELDERLY SHOULD PARTICIPATE ACTIVELY IN ALL KINDS OF CULTURAL, RECREATIONAL AND SOCIAL ACTIVITIES SO AS TO DEVELOP NEW HOBBIES, MAKE NEW FRIENDS AND LEARN NEW THINGS, THUS TURNING A NEW LEAF IN THEIR OLD AGE.

AS FOR FAMILIES, THEY SHOULD ENCOURAGE THEIR ELDERLY MEMBERS TO TAKE PART IN SUCH ACTIVITIES AND ALSO TAKE TIME TO KEEP THE ELDERLY COMPANY ON OUTINGS, SHE SAID.

SHE NOTED THAT IN RECENT YEARS MANY VOLUNTARY AND CHARITABLE ORGANISATIONS HAD STARTED TO ORGANISE A WIDE RANGE OF ACTIVITIES FOR THE ELDERLY AS AN EXPRESSION OF RESPECT AND LOVE FOR THE SENIOR MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY AND THE PARTY HOSTED BY THE SHUN TAK FRATERNAL ASSOCIATION WAS A COMMENDABLE EXAMPLE OF SUCH ACTIVITIES.

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THE GOVERNMENT, SHE SAID, ALSO ATTACHED GREAT IMPORTANCE THIS SERVICE AREA AND IT WAS FOR THIS REASON THAT A PLANNING RATIO ONE SOCIAL CENTRE FOR THE ELDERLY PER 30,000 POPULATION HAD BEEN INTRODUCED.

"AT PRESENT, THERE ARE 108 SUCH CENTRES AND THE NUMBER IS EXPECTED TO INCREASE TO 186 WITHIN FIVE YEARS.

"THE GOVERNMENT IS ALSO REVIEWING AND REVISING THIS TYPE OF SERVICE REGULARLY IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY, SHE SAID.

CONCLUDING, MRS WONG COMPLIMENTED THE SHUN TAK FRATERNAL ASSOCIATION FOR ITS CONTRIBUTION TO THE SERVICES FOR THE ELDERLY.

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