In line with the government’s policy in caring for elders, the Tseung Kwan O Aged Care Complex has been promoting active ageing and ageing in place for the past decade, ensuring that quality and targeted social support services were provided to senior citizens in Tseung Kwan O. Last year, the Tseung Kwan O Aged Care Complex—Jockey Club District Elderly Community Centre cum Day Care Unit received funding from the Social Welfare Department’s Improvement Programme of Elderly Centre and the Jockey Club Elderly Facilities Modernisation Scheme for a remodeling project and improving facilities.
In August 2016, architects and designers of the Welfare Council hosted an interior design workshop for seniors, where members of the centre were invited to propose comments on the remodeling project, with a view to creating an elder-friendly environment. The renovation project has been completed and a launching ceremony was held at the S.K.H. Church of St. John the Baptist in the afternoon on 20th January, 2017. Students of the S.K.H. Tseung Kwan O Kei Tak Primary School put on a spectacular performance of lion dance to kickstart the ceremony. Seniors from the Tseung Kwan O Aged Care Complex—Jockey Club District Elderly Community Centre then performed a music therapy programme — “Senior Conductors” to encourage guests to play their musical instruments to the beat, filling the atmosphere with fun and joy.
To thank the Social Welfare Department and the Hong Kong Jockey Club for their support to the centre’s remodeling project, the centre invited guests including Ms Pang Kit-ling, Assistant Director of Social Welfare, Mr Horrace Lit, Senior Charities Manager, the Hong Kong Jockey Club together with the Rt Revd Dr Timothy Kwok, Bishop of the H.K.S.K.H. Diocese of Eastern Kowloon, Mr Robert Shum, Independent Director of the Board of Directors of the Welfare Council, Dr Jane Lee, JP, Director of the Welfare Council and a senior respresentative to officiate at the launching ceremony. Speaking at the launching ceremony, Ms Pang Kit-ling, Assistant Director of Social Welfare, noted that ageing in place for elderly persons is an important task of the government. “After years of improvement, the district elderly community centres have become more versatile as they do not only provide leisure activities to seniors but also give them health support and diverse learning opportunities, making aging in place possible,” she added. Ms Pang also applauded the Welfare Council for its relentless support to the government’s policies as well as a number of pilot schemes launched lately, including the Pilot Scheme on Community Care Service Voucher for the Elderly. The Welfare Council has actively providing related services to elders with community care service vouchers in 5 districts. She also praised the Welfare Council for offering more quality residential places for elders on the waiting list, which complemented the government’s Pilot Scheme on Residential Care Service Voucher for the Elderly to be launched.
Before leaving, guests toured the renovated centre and recreational facilities with different themes. The centre’s staff and senior volunteers briefed the guests on the elder-friendly facilities and invited them to take part in an array of interesting activities such as fitness games, tea rituals, body painting, 3D photo shooting, board games and singing, which allowed guests to enjoy a taste of the good life in their golden years.