Background of the programme
The Friends of Private Homes for the Elderly programme is a new service launched by the SCHSA in July 2003. The programme's main concerns are the needs for a social life and health information for elderly people who live in private elderly homes. The programme has achieved satisfying results over the past 2 years, having made 11,100 visits to the elderly and organised a total of 121 activities at private homes. Through the continuing monthly matched visits by volunteers, the elderly feel the support provided by the society which can lead to a healthier life in elderly homes. With funding and sponsorship from the Partnership Fund for the Disadvantaged and the PCCW, a new phase of visits began in August 2005 to benefit more elderly people in private homes.
Target group of visits
Private home elderly who have few relatives visiting them
Private home elderly who have poor health or little in terms of a social life
Details of the visits
The programme has 2 phases:
Phase 1:
From 1 September 2005 to 31 July 2006
(Target: To visit 17 private elderly homes for 11 months)
Phase 2:
From 1 August 2006 to 30 June 2007
(Target: To visit 20 elderly homes for 11 months)
In each phase, 3 social and health programmes will be held for each of the participating private elderly homes.
Mode of the visits
Volunteers visit the matched elderly at the private elderly home at a pre-arranged time to chat with them and understand their daily life.
The elderly are given health information and encouraged to learn more.
Social and health activities are held for the elderly approximately every 4 months to encourage them to actively take part in the elderly home activities and expand their social life.
Features of the programme
Providing sustanable and regular visiting services for private home elderly by matching volunteers.
Emphasising the creation of a trusting relationship between the elderly and the volunteers by stable, personal and continuing visits.
In matching volunteers to the elderly for visits, consideration is given in particular to the dialect spoken so that the parties can communicate effectively without the barrier of language.
Volunteer Recruitment
Anyone aged 18 or above, with passion and a sense of responsibility, and who is prepared to visit the matched elders at private home elderly twice a month is welcome to join our Friends of Institutionalized Elderly. If you are interested in joining the volunteer visits, please register online or download a registration form: PDF format (62KB) or call the programme staff on 2338 8312 during office hours.
Every time our volunteer Ms Lee says goodbye, Auntie Chow is sad about her departure. Thanks to Ms Lee's monthly care visit to Auntie Chow, who is living in a private elderly home, a strong bond has been created between the two of them. The old lady reminds Ms Lee again and again to remember the next visit. She said, "I wish you could come to see me more often. I am always thinking of you. I feel very warm whenever you come to see me." What she does not know is that Ms Lee cares about her as much as she does. Certainly Ms Lee will not forget this important appointment.
Another private home elderly Uncle Chiu said, "I want to thank the elderly home for enrolling me in the 'Friends of Private Homes for the Elderly' programme and arranging for Ms Chui, the volunteer, to visit me and chat with me regularly. I feel much happier now, as if I have one more daughter."
參 與 2006-2007 年 第 二 期 「 院 友 之 友 」 顯 關 懷 計 劃 之 院 舍 名 單
(1 August 2006 to 30 Juny 2007)
(in random order)
Hiu Kwong (To Kwa Wan) Nursing Centre Hiu Kwong (Ngau Tau Kwok) Nursing Centre
Hiu Kwong Nursing Centre Company Limited Tang Tat Home Aged
Tang Tat Home For Elder Ting On Home For the Aged
Lai Lai Nursing Centre (Tsuen Wan) Limited Yan Oi Elder Centre Limited
Yi Wo Yuen Aged Sanatorium Centre Limited Po Yan Care Hime for the Elderly (Hong Kong) Limited
Pine Care (Manning) Elderly Centre New Pine Care Centre
Pinecrest Elderly Centre Tak Po Nursing Centre Limited
Kwong On Nursing Centre Limited Healthy Elderly Home Limited
Wui Fung Care Home Kong Wan Care Home
Shui On Nursing Centre Limited Hong Ling Nursing Centre
Fai To Sino West Combined Home for the Aged Ka To Home for the Aged
Shui On Nursing Centre (Shatin) Company Limited Pine Care Centre
Kong Tai (Chuk Yuen) Care For The Aged Home Limited