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Elderly urged to become volunteers

Elderly who are interested in serving the community are urged to join an older volunteers programme to help other senior citizens in need of assistance.

About $4 million has been allocated from the Lotteries Fund to finance the Older Volunteers Programme which was launched in October this year on an experimental basis for two years, a spokesman for the Social Welfare Department said today (Saturday).

"The programme was an initiative of the report of the Working Group on Care for the Elderly, published in August last year, which recognises the need to mobilise elderly people to be effective and contributory members of society, and to develop a system to enable them to take part in activities in society as an important source of volunteers.

"All older volunteers recruited will be provided with adequate training and supervision by the eight operating non-governmental organisations (NGO)," the spokesman said.

elderly.

There are eight project teams operated by eight multi-service centres for the

Some examples of the work to be carried out by the volunteers include community networking and neighbourhood support projects, reaching-out to elderly at risk, organising recreational and social activities for the elderly, visits to elderly people, patients and disabled people in hospitals, institutions and centres.

"Starting January next year, the eight multi-service centres concerned will introduce a telephone service whereby older volunteers will give concern calls to elderly people in need, and answer enquiries from the general public regarding information on community resources related to elderly service," the spokesman added.

Elderly wishing to join the programme may approach the following NGOs -

* Caritas Hong Kong - Yuen Long Multi-service Centre for the Elderly, 11-

20A Ying Shui House, Shui Pin Wai Estate, Yuen Long (Tel 2479 7383);

* Christian Family Service Centre - Kwun Tong Multi-service Centre for the

Elderly, 3-8B Block 45, Sau Mau Ping Estate (Tel 2727 1234);

* Diocesan Welfare Council - Lok Man Alice Kwok Integrated Services Centre, ground floor, Block H, Lok Man Sun Chuen, To Kwa Wan (Tel 2333 1854);