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CADENZA's Islands District event shares tips to create safe living environment for elderly

27 June 2009

Many elderly people think that they are very familiar with their living environment and might easily overlook the black spots at home, resulting in accidents. Others might presume accidents are inevitable as they are getting old. In fact, home injuries can be prevented and elderly people can enjoy a safe living environment if some simple adjustments to home design and lifestyles are made.

With this in mind, "Home Adaptation" was the theme of the sixth event of the CADENZA 18-District Programme which took place today (27 June) at the open piazza of Fu Tung Estate in Tung Chung with the support from the Islands District Council. Guest speakers Ernest Yu, CADENZA Training Programme Instructor at The Nethersole School of Nursing of The Chinese University of Hong Kong; and Kenneth Au-Yeung, Manager of Hong Kong Housing Society Elderly Resources Centre were joined by local artistes at the event to promote home safety messages to the public.

Falls and burns are two of the major home injuries among the elderly. Mr Yu explained that the main causes were older people's ageing sensory functions, reduced safety awareness and their risky behaviour, such as climbing up on folding chairs or stools to get things, or standing up to dress without adequate support. Mr Au-Yeung suggested the elderly to pay more attention to their living environment to avoid home accidents. He also cited some common hazards found in elderly people's homes, such as piling up belongings on the floor, not turning on the light when the environment is dark, and having a door threshold more than 1.5 inches high.

It was agreed that enhancing home safety awareness among the elderly was important. They should recognise the changes that came with ageing and how their daily lives will be affected. They should minimise their risky behaviour and use correct and safe home appliances and equipment such as using an induction cooker instead of a kerosene stove for cooking. Both speakers also highlighted the value of adopting the "universal design" concept and assistive devices for the elderly. The universal design concept is suitable for people of all ages and abilities, while assistive devices such as long-handled reachers, walking sticks, grab bars and non-slip floor tiles in the bathroom and kitchen can help elderly people move around safely at home, reduce the risk of hurting themselves and save their energy.

Artistes Chen Liyun, Edmond Leung, Niki Chow, Zac Koo and Tat Dik joined the event to promote the importance of home safety through various interactive games, and encouraged the public to help create a safe and convenient living environment for the elderly.

Highlights of the programme will be broadcast on RTHK Radio 5's "Brilliant Life" at 4:00 pm on Wednesday 1 July.

The CADENZA 18-District Programme is a city-wide public education initiative jointly organised by CADENZA: A Jockey Club Initiative for Seniors and RTHK Radio 5. It aims to promote positive ageing and equip the soon-to-be-old with knowledge that can help them continue to live an active and positive life. A monthly programme of public interactive events and activities is being organised in each of Hong Kong's 18 districts in turn, from January 2009 to June 2010. Details of the programme are available at: www.rthk.org.hk/special/cadenza.

CADENZA: A Jockey Club Initiative for Seniors is a five-year project launched by The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust with a donation of HK$380 million in 2006. The project aims at nurturing academic leadership in social gerontology and changing the mindset and attitude of the general public through a range of training and public education programmes. Cross-sectional collaboration between organisations and the implementation of innovative elderly services and programmes are also encouraged in order to bring about a new mode of elderly care services to prepare for a rapidly ageing society. Details of CADENZA are available at www.cadenza.hk.

The Hong Kong Jockey Club's Executive Director, Charities, William Y Yiu (centre) explains the objectives of the CADENZA 18-District Programme. He says the Club hopes the programme will help promote positive ageing to Hong Kong people.
Photo 1:
The Hong Kong Jockey Club's Executive Director, Charities, William Y Yiu (centre) explains the objectives of the CADENZA 18-District Programme. He says the Club hopes the programme will help promote positive ageing to Hong Kong people.

The Club's Executive Director, Charities, William Y Yiu (back row; 5th from left) photos with Vice Chairman of Islands District Council Chau Chuen-heung (back row; 3rd from left), Chairman of Community Affairs, Culture and Recreation Committee of Islands District Council Leung Siu-tong (back row; 5th from right); Islands District Councillor Yu Hon-kwan (back row; 4th from right), CADENZA Training Programme Instructor at The Nethersole School of Nursing of The Chinese University of Hong Kong Ernest Yu (back row; 3rd from right); Manager of Hong Kong Housing Society Elderly Resources Centre Kenneth Au-Yeung (back row; 2nd from left), Club's Head of Charities, Bonny Wong (back row; 1st from right) and guest artistes.
Photo 2:
The Club's Executive Director, Charities, William Y Yiu (back row; 5th from left) photos with Vice Chairman of Islands District Council Chau Chuen-heung (back row; 3rd from left), Chairman of Community Affairs, Culture and Recreation Committee of Islands District Council Leung Siu-tong (back row; 5th from right); Islands District Councillor Yu Hon-kwan (back row; 4th from right), CADENZA Training Programme Instructor at The Nethersole School of Nursing of The Chinese University of Hong Kong Ernest Yu (back row; 3rd from right); Manager of Hong Kong Housing Society Elderly Resources Centre Kenneth Au-Yeung (back row; 2nd from left), Club's Head of Charities, Bonny Wong (back row; 1st from right) and guest artistes.

Photos 3/4: Manager of Hong Kong Housing Society Elderly Resources Centre Kenneth Au-Yeung (in back) and artiste Niki Chow explain how to prevent home injuries. Mr Au-Yeung suggests elderly people should avoid using folding chairs and kerosene stoves.
Photo 3:
Photos 3/4:
Manager of Hong Kong Housing Society Elderly Resources Centre Kenneth Au-Yeung (in back) and artiste Niki Chow explain how to prevent home injuries. Mr Au-Yeung suggests elderly people should avoid using folding chairs and kerosene stoves.

Photos 3/4: Manager of Hong Kong Housing Society Elderly Resources Centre Kenneth Au-Yeung (in back) and artiste Niki Chow explain how to prevent home injuries. Mr Au-Yeung suggests elderly people should avoid using folding chairs and kerosene stoves.
Photo 4

Photos 5/6/7: Artiste Chen Liyun (in floral print) introduces some appliances and assistive devices such as long-handled reachers and induction cookers suitable for the elderly, and sang a Cantonese opera with the theme of
Photo 5:
Photos 5/6/7:
Artiste Chen Liyun (in floral print) introduces some appliances and assistive devices such as long-handled reachers and induction cookers suitable for the elderly, and sang a Cantonese opera with the theme of "Home Adaptation" in English.

Photos 5/6/7: Artiste Chen Liyun (in floral print) introduces some appliances and assistive devices such as long-handled reachers and induction cookers suitable for the elderly, and sang a Cantonese opera with the theme of
Photo 6

Photos 5/6/7: Artiste Chen Liyun (in floral print) introduces some appliances and assistive devices such as long-handled reachers and induction cookers suitable for the elderly, and sang a Cantonese opera with the theme of
Photo 7

CADENZA Training Programme Instructor at The Nethersole School of Nursing of The Chinese University of Hong Kong Ernest Yu (2nd from left) and artiste Edmond Leung (2nd from right) demonstrate how to test elderly people's sense of balance.
Photo 8:
CADENZA Training Programme Instructor at The Nethersole School of Nursing of The Chinese University of Hong Kong Ernest Yu (2nd from left) and artiste Edmond Leung (2nd from right) demonstrate how to test elderly people's sense of balance.

Photos 9/10: Artistes Edmond Leung and Tat Dik design a safe and proper kitchen with the help of audience. CADENZA Training Programme Instructor at The Nethersole School of Nursing of The Chinese University of Hong Kong Ernest Yu points out the mistakes and explains how these can be improved.
Photo 9:
Photos 9/10:
Artistes Edmond Leung and Tat Dik design a safe and proper kitchen with the help of audience. CADENZA Training Programme Instructor at The Nethersole School of Nursing of The Chinese University of Hong Kong Ernest Yu points out the mistakes and explains how these can be improved.

Photos 9/10: Artistes Edmond Leung and Tat Dik design a safe and proper kitchen with the help of audience. CADENZA Training Programme Instructor at The Nethersole School of Nursing of The Chinese University of Hong Kong Ernest Yu points out the mistakes and explains how these can be improved.
Photo 10

 

 

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