The public education imperative
Hong Kong has achieved health indices that are among the best in the world and as a result more people are living longer. But we have to make sure that we are also adding life to years and not merely adding years to our lives. The ageing trend in Hong Kong as well as many other places in the world is unprecedented in recorded history so there are few lessons to learn from. At the same time, the world is changing rapidly with new knowledge and technologies being produced all the time. Members of the public and older people in particular need to be able to differentiate inaccurate from accurate information for sound decision-making.
Investing in public education has therefore become critical in fostering a culture of learning among members of the public, and in reorienting society’s mindset towards creating a supportive environment that enables the elderly to lead healthy, happy and productive lives. Government and other sectors have made important contributions to improve the well-being of elderly persons in recent years but significant challenges remain.
Recognizing the need for sustained concerted efforts in this domain, the Hong Kong Jockey Club has dedicated a line of activity under the CADENZA project to public education, in support of initiatives that address knowledge gaps, correct misconceptions and highlight important or controversial issues on ageing and the elderly.
Public education activities will target all segments of the population, not just elderly persons, for everyone is on the same journey, regardless of age, gender, professional affiliation, religious persuasion or any other personal characteristic. To increase the impact of public education activities, emphasis will be placed on using innovative and effective educational and communication strategies and tools, enlisting the support of the mass media and cultivating a wide range of public-private partnerships.
Preparing ourselves for a third-age society
To achieve a sustainable transformation of society’s value system regarding older people, attention needs to be paid to several areas:
Improving the image of the elderly – Negative stereotypes are detrimental to older people’s self-esteem and can lead to discriminatory behaviors against them. Myths need to be dispelled while positive aspects of ageing need to be reinforced.
Health promotion and health literacy – The elderly are especially vulnerable when it comes to making health-related decisions. Health literacy skills can help them access correct information as well as use the information correctly to improve their health status.
Managing health risks and chronic conditions – The elderly are more susceptible to chronic conditions that can be managed better with patient participation and empowerment, based on one’s knowledge of the self, the disease and available services.
A safe living environment – The vast majority of injuries and accidents inside and outside the home are preventable. With some foresight, planning and targeted interventions, mishaps can be avoided.
Access to legal and financial advice and support – There are many situations where the lack of assistance from a legal and/or financial perspective can lead to serious and irreversible consequences for older individuals (examples: elder abuse, power of attorney, living wills), yet help is often not available when most needed.
Living with quality and dying with dignity – This is particularly difficult to cope with in the face of progressive decline or terminal illness and needs to be addressed with special skills and sensitivity.
An invitation to join the movement
The issues are complex but that is all part of the reality that must be faced by society as the ageing trend continues. Changing mindsets is a gradual process that requires the ongoing collaboration of all segments of society. As the project progresses, we will continue to cooperate with other stakeholders to focus on the issues mentioned above. Our aim is to reach out to all members of the public – through interactive seminars and workshops, educational games and contests, as well as public fora and colloquia.
We invite you to visit the CADENZA website at http://www.cadenza.hk/ and find out more about activities you may wish to participate in. We hope that our activities will stimulate reflections, discussions and debates in the media and among policymakers. Working together, we can add more fuel to the movement and move swiftly towards the creation of a sustainable supportive environment for successful ageing.
| CADENZA 18-District Programme
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CADENZA TV Series
The Way We Are: CADENZA Series
Other News
26/4/2008 - Public Educational Event
29/3/2008 - Public Educational Event
18/11/2007 - An Elder Friendly Hong Kong Educational Fair
1/10/2007 - Reflections on the Beauty of Ageing - Images & Words photo contest result
