Press Releases

Publicity drive to arouse public awareness on elderly depression, dementia

The Health and Welfare Bureau today (Saturday) launched a publicity drive, "Keeping the Elderly Company", to increase public understanding of elderly depression and dementia.

More importantly, the drive aims to foster respect and care for the elderly in society and to encourage families to take on the responsibilities to care for their elderly members.

These messages will be driven home through three TV Announcements of Public Interest (TV API) which were launched by the Secretary for Health and Welfare, Dr E K Yeoh, and the Chairman of the Elderly Suicide and Dementia Working Group, Dr Shum Ping-shiu, at the Times Square this afternoon.

Speaking at the launching ceremony, Dr Yeoh pointed out that with a rapidly ageing population, the increasing number of elderly suffering from dementia was one of the major health concerns for all. Depression amongst the elderly is also quite common; and the elderly suicide rate in Hong Kong is relatively high compared with the rest of the world.

"Hence, the Health and Welfare Bureau set up the working group in August last year to study the problems of elderly suicide and dementia and to make recommendations to the Government," he said.

"A report was submitted to the Elderly Commission in July this year. The Elderly Commission and the Government are fully supportive of the report."

Dr Yeoh said the publicity drive was being organised on the recommendations of the working group to enhance public understanding on the importance of psychosocial needs of the elderly and be more vigilant of elderly people suffering from depression.

In closing, Dr Yeoh said the Government would continue to improve various elderly services so as to achieve the objectives of the policy on care for the elderly.

Also speaking at the launching ceremony, Dr Shum said the Working Group appreciated the Government's efforts in addressing the problems through publicity, training for staff, providing support for elderly services and setting up dementia units at some care-and-attention homes and day care centres for the elderly. However, the working group was of the view that in many respects, these efforts need to be strengthened and well co-ordinated.

"I'm grateful to learn from Dr Yeoh that the Government will actively follow up on the working group's recommendations, and continue providing services catering to the needs of the elderly. Today's event shows that Dr Yeoh acts on what he has promised.

"I sincerely hope that publicity activities would arouse the community's concern for elderly depression and dementia, as well as care for the elderly," Dr Shum added.

End/Saturday, October 16, 1999

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