Helping Hand Newsletter

Like elderly people worldwide

the residents of Helping Hand want

to spend their remaining years with

energy, interests, good physical and

mental health, staying youthful for as

long as possible. Our definite aim

therefore is to assist our residents

achieve a youthful old age. One way

to accomplish this, we believe, is for

them to keep learning as long as

possible. What subject they learn

doesn't matter, it may be academic

knowledge, a language, improving

skills, fostering interests or taking up

new hobbies, as long as it is learnt

anew it will achieve results.

Elderly residentsattending "DrawingClass"

What’s inside?

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Editorial Board

Publisher

FOCUS

July, 2004

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Lok Fu Care Home Superintendent, Vesta Chan

An elderly fashion show program jointly organisedby Helping Hand Hongkong Bank Foundation Lok Fu CareHome and Kowloon City Baptist Church Lok Fu SocialCentre for the Elderly was held on 23 March 2004. Therewere 21 elderly models and about 300 spectators involvedin the event.

The elderly models were divided into 5 teams. Namely,the Cyber Group with inventive dress; the Uniform Groupwith disciplinary persona; the Old Goodies Group, withfashions of the 60s'; the Evening-Gown group with daintydresses; and the blissful and shy Wedding Group. Thecontest was enriched by the brilliant conversationsbetween the Master of Ceremonies and the models,especially when a 100-year old lady model from Lok FuCare Home was interviewed. An atmosphere of joy andfun reverberated throughout the morning. "We wouldlove to come again next year for such an uplifting event"was the comment from many of the honorable guests ofthe day.

In their twilight years, the elderly can be as beautifulas youngsters because beauty is much more than justappearance or attractive clothes. Beauty is vitality, theability to remain active, to develop personal interests andpotentials, to foster a sense of achievement and pride intheir own lives. A Golden Old Life is not just a slogan butsomething that can come true. What we can do to helpthem achieve this is to offer a friendly environment andprovide space and opportunities for our senior citizens.We dream of a joyful society for all ages.

Lastly, we would like to express our gratitude to theLee Hysan Foundation, without whose financial supportthe contest could not have been so successful.

Here are our beautiful elderly models!

FOCUS

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Just to give an idea of how our elderly live we look at

the lives of two residents King Sea and Ah Wan both in

their 80s and roommates in Lai Yiu. To begin with our

staff encourage them to keep up with current affairs by

watching intelligent T.V. programs and reading the daily

newspaper, our staff also read the paper to those whose

eyesight is impaired. In addition to this they take part in

activities such as handicrafts, drawing, the magic club,

drum classes and Mandarin lessons. Although they need

sticks that doesn't discourage them from walking. They

enjoy going out especially when there are festival events

and they love to go to the temple at Lunar New year.

They had a very memorable time when they visited

our home at Zhaoqing. They were thrilled by it and

thought it was wonderful with so much space and freedom

in such scenic surroundings. When they returned to Lai

Yiu the others who hadn't gone vowed that next time

they would see for themselves. Afterwards when the

residents were chatting over supper back home they

agreed that they didn't have any regrets about what they

had done in life the only regrets were about what they

hadn't done! Certainly King Sea and Ah Wan are over 80

years young.

– King Sea, elderly resident in Lai YiuBradbury Care Home

Student visitors with the elderly residents

FEATURE

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–Our first Cookie Campaign took place in 1984 as a

much needed effort to raise funds for the future of HelpingHand. Now 25 years later the money raised far exceedsthe modest beginnings of the first Cookie Campaign andthe goodwill and promotion is of paramount importance.The gold sponsorship of Hoe Hin Pak Fah YeowManufactory Ltd. was important to us. Also the great effortof our elderly residents, and our devoted staff sellingcookies at various locations throughout Hong Kong, theCampaign was very successful. Over 87,000 packets ofcookies were sold. This tremendous effort was well

worthwhile, as it willhelp us to providehigh quality care andrehabilitative servicescollectively to there s iden t s in ourh o m e s . I t h a senabled us to keepour elderly smiling.

Our Leisure Trailer which is a converted Container wehave had since 2002 takes to the road frequently to giveservices to elderly living in the community. The trailer is40 foot long and inside is a computer room, audio roomand multi-purpose facility for workshops and classes. It

takes to the road with it's brightlycoloured exterior and gives various toservices to elderly living in HousingEstates or at festivals and functions.

Joe JuniorMr Joe Junior supported our Cookie Campaign.

Elderly playing computer happily Tea art class in the trailer

Health check for the elderly

Energetic elderly residents selling the cookies.

ACTIVITIES

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As a celebration for our 25th Anniversary weorganised a Photo Competition which was sponsored byKodak. There were three divisions, public, elderly andstudent. The idea was to encourage our community totake a photo that captured a delightful moment with anelderly person. This objective was not only to have somegood photographs but also to raise public awareness ofthe elderly. We had an award presentation and thephotographs were on view for the public to see at theopening of the Cookie Campaign in Shatin. Here are threeof the winners.

– Playing TogtherMr Hui Yau TaiStudent Division Golden Award

– A Smile from the HeartMr Wan Chi LungPublic Division Golden Award

– Singing Together

Ms Lau Siu WaiElderly Division Golden Award

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ACTIVITIES

66

Our long time benefactor Mr Peter van Zuidendonated an everlasting Chinese Rock Garden as an addedattraction to the Cheung Muk Tau Holiday Centre. Mr vanZuiden came from his native Holland to open the RockGarden on May 15th. The opening was attended byCommittee members, visitors from China and members ofthe public. Our staff were kept busy not only organisingthe opening but looking after 100 day campers as well.We had 80 visitors from Zhaoqing who included severaldignitaries, Mr Wu Jiafang, Former Chairman for theStanding Committee Zhaoqing Municipal People'sCongress, The Director of Health of Gaoyao City, Mr Lihuanbiao, Mr Gan Canguang, the Director of VeteranCadre Bureau of Zhaoqing City.

The dignitaries stayed for several days and presenteda handsome Rock for the Garden. The Holiday Centre'sChairman Dr David Dai, presented the dignitaries withsouvenirs. Exco member Mr Joseph Lee presented abeautiful Bonsai tree for the garden.

The Garden is designed by Exco Committee memberMr Peter Tsang who travelled through China selecting rareand special rocks which represent the four seasons. Springhas white rocks against a background of water, warmyellow rocks are for summer, gaunt white rocks signifyAutumn as the trees fall and finally white and dark rocksrepresent winter in all it's mystery. A special feature in thegarden is a million year old stalagmite dragon which waspresented to the Rock Garden by the designer Peter Tsangand for which we are deeply grateful.

Special rocks in the Rock Garden.

Mrs Aileen Bridgewater thanked Mr Peter vanZuiden for his staunch support.

ACTIVITIES

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Equipment for visual stimulation.

NEW SERVICE

A new service giving multi-sensory treatment to elderlysuffering from dementia, especially those in the late stage,was introduced at the Helping Hand Lai Yiu Care Homerecently.

During the later stages of dementia the elderly becomeless able to interact with the environment. The purposeof using multi-sensory treatment is to find channels tointeract with the elderly by giving stimulation to theirvarious sensory organs.

There are different sets of tools for different sensorystimulation. For visual stimulation, e.g. optical fibre, mirrorballs and a bubble tube can be used. For audio stimulationthere are music clips or audio clips presenting sounds. CD'sor musical instruments may be used for the same purpose.Tactile stimulation includes touching or rubbing on handor face. Material with different textures can also be used.Tasting and smelling stimulation can be achieved withnatural foods, salty water or fruit juice for example, andthe scent of flowers stimulates smell.

The response from late stage demented elderly is notalways obvious and sometimes only shows for a splitsecond. Response is very dependent on the condition ofthe particular patient. Experienced therapists are neededto make careful observation and determine how successfulthe treatment is.

Materials for tactile stimulation.

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DONATION FORM

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

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•Dah Chong Hong, Ltd Donated a used 7-seater private car

( ) •Kodak (Hong Kong) Ltd Sponsored the Helping Hand 25th Anniversary Photo Contest.

•The Van Zuiden Charity Trust Supported the setting up cost of "The Aileen Bridgewater Caring Centre for the

Demented Elderly" in the Cheung Muk Tau Holiday Centre for the Elderly.

•Donated the building cost of "The Aileen Bridgewater Rock Garden" in Cheung MukTau Holiday Centre for the Elderly.

• 2003 2004Lee Hysan Foundation Sponsored the 2003/2004 programme expenses for all Helping Hand elderly

residents by making donation.

• 15Sir David Trench Fund for Recreation Allocated a grant to buy 15 sets of 'Boccia Balls' for Helping Hand's elderly homes.

•The American Women Association Donated the setting up cost of a "multi-sensory room" in the Helping Hand Bradburyof Hong Kong Ltd Lai Yiu Care Home.

/ 12If you would like to help us continue our work for the elderly, please complete thefollowing donation form, make a payment to "Helping Hand", and send to 1stFloor, 12 Borrett Road, Hong Kong.

DONATION FORM

___________________I / My company would like to make a donation of HK$ ___________________ to Helping Hand

by the enclosed cheque / bank-in slip to the Helping Hand bank account. Hang Seng Bank (024-262-346083-001) Chekiang First Bank (08-02-17452-6)

by credit card. VISA Master Card AMEX

Credit card no. ___________________________________________( / ) Expiry date (mm/yy) ________________________________( ) Cardholder's name __________________________________ Cardholder's signature ____________________________________

* Donation of HK$100 or above is tax-deductible.

Donor’s Information

/ Name/Company: ________________________________________________________________________________________

Address: _____________________________________________________________________________________________________

Tel: ____________________ Fax: ______________________ Email: ____________________________________________

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