About 300 volunteers from three elderly service agencies were today appointed ambassadors to help identify "hidden" senior citizens in their community and extend love and care to them.
The ambassadors will be participating in this year's "CAREnival for the Elderly" programme jointly organised by HK Electric, The Hong Kong Society for the Aged, Aberdeen Kai-Fong Welfare Association Social Service Centre and St. James' Settlement. While encouraging single elders to reach out and ask for assistance when needed, the programme also intends to widen their social network and introduce to them services available in the community.
Ambassadors will be provided basic training to enhance their knowledge about hidden elders and their communicating skills. Every ambassador is expected to invite three to five senior citizens to join service centres, bringing an anticipated 1,000 to 1,500 into the elderly social service network. Similar to the previous year, HK Electric volunteers will partner with their elderly counterparts in monthly home visits.
Speaking at today's Ambassadors Appointment Ceremony, Operations Director of HK Electric, Mr. Yuen Sui-see, said: "HK Electric has been working closely with the three elderly service agencies for the past two years. Last year, we extended our care to more than 1,500 elderly living alone through district-based carnivals and monthly home visits."
"Assessing the programme, more than 600 elderly who took part were interviewed and most of them remembered the key message - 'Don't be afraid of bothering others'", said Mr. Yuen, "More encouraging still, over 70% of the interviewees said they had sought help in the past year when they had problems."
The interviews also indicated that more than 50% of the respondents have since joined an elderly service centre, while over 80% have used services provided by elderly centres, taken part in centre activities or encouraged others to seek help when needed.
"In view of such favourable response, we decided to take the project further by engaging more elderly volunteers," said Mr. Yuen.
Appointing the ambassadors today, Deputy Director (Services) of Social Welfare Department, Mr. Cheung Hing-wah, said he was pleased to note the business sector was collaborating with the social service sector for such a meaningful and sustainable cause. He noted that the programme's objective is in line with government's emphasis on caring for hidden elders, and commended it for engaging the elderly in helping fellow elders.
The volunteers sprang into action immediately after the ceremony, handing out leaflets and encouraging other elderly to join social service centres. A booklet introducing services for the elderly on Hong Kong Island has also been produced for distribution during the year.