Integrated day-care centre for elderly opens in Sha Tin

07/01/2011

In the latest manifestation of The Hong Kong Jockey Club's support for local elderly services, the Caritas Jockey Club Integrated Day Services Centre for the Elderly was officially opened today (7 January) by Club Steward Dr Rita Fan Hsu Lai Tai, Secretary for Labour and Welfare Matthew Cheung, Caritas – Hong Kong Chief Executive The Rev Michael Yeung, and the Club’s Executive Director, Charities, Douglas So.

Dr Fan noted that the city's proportion of ageing population is continuing to grow and services for the elderly will become increasingly important. "The Club has attached great importance to the challenges brought forth by the ageing population. Over the past decade, we have invested more than a billion dollars on elderly services. Today, the opening of the Caritas Jockey Club Integrated Day Services Centre for the Elderly will not only benefit the elderly and the carers, but also help foster family harmony and alleviate medical burdens on society, by allowing the elderly to age at home."

Mr Cheung thanked the Jockey Club for its generous support for helping Caritas-Hong Kong expand their services and serve more elderly.

Mrs Yu shared her experience from the carer’s perspective, "Owing to dementia, a lot of day care centres declined my husband’s application, which caused a great deal of pressure to us. Now, thanks to the love and care of the staff at the Caritas Jockey Club Integrated Day Services Centre for the Elderly, I can have some spare time and can take care of my 97-year-old mother."

Located in Caritas Christina N K Lee Building of Caritas Harold H W Lee Care and Attention Home in Sha Tin, the four-storey Centre is divided into four sections, namely Elder Support Link, Day Care Service, Rehabilitation and Fall Prevention Service, and Care Support and Training Service.

Tasked with providing physical, emotional and social support for people aged 55 and above as well as relieving the pressure on carers, the centre offers one-stop day-care services including healthcare, rehabilitation, personal care for daily living, counselling and consolation, catering, social and recreational activities, as well as transportation service.

Other ongoing efforts by the Club to strengthen elderly services in the community include the Trust initiated elderly project "CADENZA: A Jockey Club Initiative for Seniors", a one-stop integrated primary health and social centre called The Jockey Club CADENZA Hub, and the establishment and enhancement of The Jockey Club Centre for Positive Ageing to serve elderly people with dementia. The Club has also supported various elderly projects implemented by NGOs to meet the increasing demand in different districts.

The Hong Kong Jockey 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.