Media

CADENZA Project Studies on New Attitude and New Direction in Elderly Care Reveal Significant Misconceptions Relating to Ageing and Health Services Fail to Meet the Elderly's Expectations

16 Feb 2009

                              Press Conference on Research Findings 
   jointly organised by CADENZA and the Faculty of Social Sciences of HKU


Society has been supportive to positive ageing in recent years.  Yet, there are significant misconceptions and knowledge gaps relating to ageing among the general public and elderly themselves, leading to poor image of the elderly.  Near 80% of the elderly thought that they should give way to younger workers.  Over 80% of the public admitted that if their family member became demented, they did not know the caring method.  Also, near 90% of the elderly perceived resuscitation procedures in the hospital can make a dying older person live longer. How to correct their misconceptions and enhance relevant knowledge?

On the other hand, a wide variety of health and social services have been provided to meet the needs of the elderly people.  How well do the current service provisions meet their needs?  What kind of services do they want?

The project "CADENZA: A Jockey Club Initiative for Seniors" has recently completed the above two research studies, providing clues to new elderly care attitude and new direction in health and social care coordination.

CADENZA is a five-year project initiated by The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust, in collaboration with the Faculty of Social Sciences of The University of Hong Kong (HKU) and the Faculty of Medicine of The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK), to prepare the Hong Kong society for an ageing population.

Media representatives are cordially invited to cover the press conference this Wednesday.  Researchers of the study will elaborate their findings at the conference.  Details are as below:

Date: Wednesday, 18 February 2009

Time: 10:30 am

Venue: Convocation Room, Room 218, Main Building, HKU

Speakers:
Miss Bonny WONG
Head of Charities, The Hong Kong Jockey Club
Professor Jean WOO
Director of CADENZA Project
Professor of Medicine
Head of Division of Geriatrics, Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, CUHK
Professor Diana T F LEE
Programme Director of CADENZA Training Programme
Chair Professor of Nursing and Director of The Nethersole School of Nursing, CUHK
Dr Benise MAK
Research Assistant Professor of CADENZA Project and
the Faculty of Social Sciences, HKU

Media enquiries: Miss Erica LEUNG, CADENZA Project (Tel: 2219-4479)