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The Social Welfare Department (SWD) has enhanced publicity about elderly services, reminding elders of the ways in which they can seek assistance from the SWD or non-governmental organisations (NGOs), such as care and counselling services and applying for an emergency alarm.
As part of the publicity campaign, the department with the concerted effort of four NGOs in Sham Shui Po District today (July 16) distributed through their networks and estate management offices over 2,000 leaflets to elderly families in Tai Hang Sai Estate, Tai Hang Tung Estate and Nam Shan Estate, aimed at raising their awareness of the welfare services in the neighbourhood.
There are currently 41 District Elderly Community Centres, all with elderly support teams, and 117 Neighbourhood Elderly Centres, providing outreach services for the elderly. Elders or their family members may also receive services provided by subvented NGOs, which will arrange for workers or volunteers to pay regular visits and provide them with the necessary assistance.
In addition, the Government has all along been making every effort to build up a caring community for the elderly, including the implementation of various subvented programmes like the SWD's Opportunities for the Elderly Project and the Elderly Commission's Pilot Neighbourhood Active Ageing Project.
The SWD appealed to the public to take care of the elderly in their families and in the neighborhood, developing a caring and mutual help culture in Hong Kong.
Ends/Friday, July 16, 2010
Issued at HKT 17:01
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