Hong Kong's population is aging and there are hundreds of thousands of elderly people living alone or with their spouses. With the influx of immigrants, we cannot rule out the possibility of a further increase in the number of "double-elderly households" in the next couple of years. Elderly people with financial means can still hire foreign domestic helpers to help them, but for grassroots families with two elderly members, "taking care of the elderly with the elderly" is often the only option in reality, and elderly people living alone have to worry that "no one will know about them when they die". Uncle Ho, who is now 70 years old and suffers from diabetes and hypertension, his wife passed away a long time ago and they have no children in Hong Kong. He is worried about this!
I am an old man living alone and I am 70 years old. I have diabetes and high blood pressure, and I have to take a lot of medicine everyday. My wife is no longer here, we have no children and no other relatives in Hong Kong. I live by myself and I only get CSSA every month. I can walk and do exercise in the park every day which is my only hobby.
I am an elderly person from the grassroots and I am not well off financially. I have no one to help me with my daily life, and when I am alone in the house, I sometimes think about what will happen to me in case of an accident and worry that I will die without anyone knowing.
However, one day, I met a staff member of Sunyu Academy. After telling them about my worries, they told me that there were actually some organizations that had launched some programs to help elderly people like me, and that the programs could help me make choices according to my religious beliefs, financial situation and personal preferences. After I pass away, someone will take care of my funeral arrangements according to my wishes. After listening to the introduction by the staff of Sunyu Academy, I think it is a good idea. I thought that since I have no children or relatives to take care of my funeral arrangements, I should prepare for myself, so I decided to join one of the programs.
In addition, they also advised me to install an emergency alarm to call for help in case of accidents, and the staff of the emergency alarm will call me regularly to care about my condition. The staff of Sunyu Academy also advised me to join the District Elderly Community Centre in the district to actively participate in the recreational activities organized by the center and to widen my social circle.
The staff of Sunyu Academy is also very attentive to the spiritual needs of the elderly, listening to our voices and difficulties, and trying their best to provide assistance! I am so grateful to Sunyu Academy for their help and care, they made me rediscover the meaning and value of life. I hope more elderly people can do the same as I did, to make their old age better and happier.
In the 10 years from 2013 to 2023, there will be at least five cases in Hong Kong in which people who lived alone died in their flats and were left to rot and decay, or were even reduced to skeletons, and it is estimated that some of them have passed away for a few years, and four of these cases were uncovered by the Housing Department (HD) when it came to collect rent arrears or repossessed the flats.
Recently, there have been a number of urban tragedies in Hong Kong in which elderly people who lived alone or were both elderly died in their homes and were not found until a long time later. This phenomenon is known as "death by loneliness" in foreign countries and was first seen in Japan. What can we do to change this situation? First of all, it is very important to care for others. We should take the initiative to care for our family members, friends and neighbors, and provide them with sincere care and companionship. A hello, a chat or a warm hug can make them feel loved and cared for.
If you or someone close to you has any problems in life, please contact us, we are happy to be a support for the elderly.
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