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Experts advocate advanced technology to facilitate healthy ageing

09/30/2014

Technologists, industrialists and elderly services providers shared updates on the latest technologies for elderly care while discussing the way forward in enhancing its quality at the Technologies And Healthy Ageing Symposium today (30 September).  With support from the CADENZA: A Jockey Club Initiative for Seniors and the CUHK Jockey Club Institute of Ageing, the Symposium, organised by Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute (ASTRI), attracted near 500 participants from the social welfare, medical and healthcare, IT and education sectors.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, the Club’s Executive Director, Charities and Community Leong Cheung said, “Technology offers great scope in helping ease the burden of carers and improving the quality of elderly care delivery.  As the Club celebrates its 130th Anniversary this year, we shall seek further ways of contributing to the community’s long-term sustainability.  One of our strategic foci will be to help build Hong Kong into an age-friendly city.”

Jockey Club CADENZA Project Director and CUHK Jockey Club Institute of Ageing Director Professor Jean Woo said, “Technology has always had the potential to play a key role in promoting successful ageing.  Yet while there are many technological inventions from all parts of the world, there is still a shortage of consumer-ready solutions.  We need to bridge the gap between technology and ageing communities.  The symposium today will address these issues, and hopefully contribute to bridging this gap and accelerating the development of gerontechnology in Hong Kong,” she told the audience.

“Technology may be helpful to caregivers by promoting safety and engagement of dementia sufferers in cognitive stimulating or comforting activities,” Jockey Club Centre for Positive Ageing Director Professor Timothy Kwok said.  “The challenge is to develop innovations which are practical to caregivers and acceptable to the people with dementia.  With the expected increase in the number of people with dementia and a decrease in the availability of caregivers, there is an urgent need to develop such technologies.”

CADENZA: A Jockey Club Initiative for Seniors is a project launched in 2006 by The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust with a donation of HK$380 million. The project is aimed at nurturing academic leadership in 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.

Established last month, the CUHK Jockey Club Institute of Ageing will synergise the research personnel and efforts across disciplines to promote and implement holistic strategies for active ageing, through research, policy advice, community outreach and knowledge transfer.

The Hong Kong Jockey Club

Founded in 1884, The Hong Kong Jockey Club is a world-class horse racing operator and Hong Kong’s largest community benefactor, as well as one of Asia’s most prestigious membership clubs. Operating as a not-for-profit organisation, the Club allocates its surplus for charitable and community projects. In 2013/14, its donations reached a record $3.6 billion, and in the last decade alone it supported over 1,275 projects. The Club is also Hong Kong’s largest single taxpayer, contributing a record HK$19.58 billion in 2013/14. With about 70% of its revenue given back to society every year through donations and tax contributions, The Hong Kong Jockey Club delivers a significantly higher return to the community than any other racing and/or sports betting organisation in the world. As a socially responsible organisation, the Club helps Government combat illegal betting and advocates responsible gambling. The Club is also one of Hong Kong’s largest employers with over 24,800 full-time and part-time staff. Committed to global excellence and giving back to society, the Club is always “riding high together for a better future” with the people of Hong Kong. 

The Cluba£į?s Executive Director, Charities and Community Leong Cheung says technology offers great scope in helping ease the burden of carers and improving the quality of elderly care delivery.
The Cluba£į?s Executive Director, Charities and Community Leong Cheung says technology offers great scope in helping ease the burden of carers and improving the quality of elderly care delivery.

The Cluba£į?s Executive Director, Charities and Community Leong Cheung (front row, 3rd right) pictured with Under Secretary for Labour and Welfare Stephen Sui (front row, centre), Chairman of the ASTRI Board Wong Ming-yam (front row, 4th right), CUHK Pro-Vice-Chancellor Professor Fanny Cheung (front row, 4th left), Elderly Commission Chairman Professor Alfred Chan (front row, 3rd left), Jockey Club CADENZA Project Director and CUHK Jockey Club Institute of Ageing Director Professor Jean Woo (front row, 2nd left), International Society for Gerontechnology President Professor Alain Franco (front row, 2nd right), CEO of Singaporea£į?s Integrated Health Information Systems Pte Ltd Dr Chong Yoke-sin (front row, 1st left) and other guests at the Technologies And Healthy Ageing Symposium.
The Cluba£į?s Executive Director, Charities and Community Leong Cheung (front row, 3rd right) pictured with Under Secretary for Labour and Welfare Stephen Sui (front row, centre), Chairman of the ASTRI Board Wong Ming-yam (front row, 4th right), CUHK Pro-Vice-Chancellor Professor Fanny Cheung (front row, 4th left), Elderly Commission Chairman Professor Alfred Chan (front row, 3rd left), Jockey Club CADENZA Project Director and CUHK Jockey Club Institute of Ageing Director Professor Jean Woo (front row, 2nd left), International Society for Gerontechnology President Professor Alain Franco (front row, 2nd right), CEO of Singaporea£į?s Integrated Health Information Systems Pte Ltd Dr Chong Yoke-sin (front row, 1st left) and other guests at the Technologies And Healthy Ageing Symposium.

Photos 3/4/5: <br>
Local and overseas experts share their views on the way forward in enhancing the quality of care for the elderly with near 500 participants from the social welfare, medical and healthcare, IT and education sectors at the Symposium.
Photos 3/4/5:
Local and overseas experts share their views on the way forward in enhancing the quality of care for the elderly with near 500 participants from the social welfare, medical and healthcare, IT and education sectors at the Symposium.



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