CADENZA!|s Sham Shui Po event enhances elderly!|s road safety awareness and alertness

19 June 2010

Most of us have heard the slogan "Zero Accidents on the Road, Hong Kong's Goal", but yet many people, especially the elderly, do not follow the traffic rules when crossing the road. Quite a number of older people have bad habits such as jaywalking and crossing several lanes in one go, often copying the actions of younger people even though they move much more slowly.

Carrying the theme "Living in a Safe Environment", the latest stop of CADENZA 18-District Programme was held today (19 June) at Dragon Centre in Sham Shui Po. With support from Sham Shui Po District Council, speakers Dr Mong Hoi-keung, Road Safety Council Member and Chairman of the Institute of Advanced Motorists Hong Kong, and Yeung Pui-yee, Occupational Therapist of The Chinese University of Hong Kong both helped promote the importance of road safety to the audience with guest artistes.

The two speakers shared with the audience that the elderly invariably overestimated their physical capabilities and had low road safety awareness. For example, they would still start to cross the road when the green man signal was already flashing, a situation Dr Mong stressed was against the law as well as dangerous because of their deteriorating physical ability and slower reactions. He also pointed out that many elderly people had accidents or falls whilst travelling on public transport. "Once they board a vehicle, they should hold the handrail, sit on the lower deck, fasten the seatbelt if provided, and avoid standing and climbing up to the upper deck," he said. Dr Mong also explained the proper use of facilities such as zebra crossings and traffic islands, which could help remind the public to be safer road users.

Escalators in shopping centres and at MTR stations, uneven sidewalks or tactile guide paths, and wet floors in markets are other black spots where the elderly could easily trip or have accidents. Speaker Miss Yeung reminded the elderly to pay more attention in these places. She said that suitable clothing, footwear and accessories would help reduce accidents. Elderly people were recommended to wear light and well-fitting clothing and be especially aware of scarves when getting on or off vehicles. White or light-coloured clothing should be chosen in cloudy or rainy days, while clothes with reflective materials would help drivers notice pedestrians at night.

It was also very important for the elderly to choose correct footwear, she emphasised. Shoes should be well-fitting with round toecaps and non-slip soles, and preferably with an insole too. Miss Yeung cautioned that the elderly should take special care if they were wearing progressive or bifocal spectacles especially for stairs and uneven floors. They should use an adjustable walking stick with rubber tip whenever they went out. "Doing adequate and appropriate exercises can help strengthen one's muscles, enhance balance, increase bone mineral density and improve one's reaction time, which ultimately reduces the risk of falls," she explained.

Artistes Tse Suet Sum, Endy Chow, Chloe Chu, Jinny Ng, Rubberband and Ever were on hand to disseminate the outdoor safety messages through interactive games and short drama.  Members of the CARE@hkjc Volunteer Team and representatives from the Friends of Hoi Lai Society were also on hand to demonstrate the ten Hong Kong Can Do Exercise routines, with the aims of promoting healthy exercise and injecting positive energy into the community. 

Highlights of the programme will be broadcast on RTHK Radio 5's "Brilliant Life" at 4:00 pm on 1 July 2010 (Thursday).

The CADENZA 18-District Programme is a citywide 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.  Since January 2009, a monthly programme of public interactive events and activities has been taking place in each of Hong Kong's 18 districts in turn.  Details of the programme are available at: www.rthk.org.hk/special/cadenza.

CADENZA: A Jockey Club Initiative for Seniors is a 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 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 KongJockey Club

Founded in 1884, The Hong Kong Jockey Club has become one of Hong Kong's best known and respected organisations, providing the public with world-class sporting entertainment as well as being the city's major non-Government community benefactor, now donating more than HK$1 billion a year to charitable and community projects.  It has been a part of Hong Kong through good times and bad, sharing the city's growth and development with its people, and is dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for future generations.