Media

CADENZA Community Project: AIMS-Active Interest Mentorship Scheme
Second Active Interest Expo to be held
at the Sky Dome Atrium Discovery Park in Tsuen Wan

18 Jan 2013

Every year about 60,000 working adults in Hong Kong enter retirement. Due to the influence of the 1950s baby boom, the retirement population will peak around 2018, when up to 300,000 people will leave work within a few years.

Successful adjustment to retirement is the crucial first step to quality aging. On the other hand, poor adjustment is a major risk factor for mental health problems such as depression and anxiety. Therefore adjustment and preparation to retirement is a major social issue. However, because of limited resources, most corporations can only provide basic preparation such as leaflets or one-off seminars for soon-to-retire employees. In order to promote real behavioral change for retirement preparation, practical support along with universal and cost-effective strategies are required.

In response to the challenge, the University of Hong Kong (HKU) and Hong Kong Christian Service jointly launched a two-year project, CADENZA Community Project: AIMS - Active Interest Mentorship Scheme in 2011, funded by The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust. By introducing a mentorship intervention model, individuals who will retire soon or have just retired are assisted to develop active interests, participating in interactive and meaningful activities to derive satisfaction and motivation for a healthy and positive retired life. AIMS have recruited a total of 57 mentors and 96 mentees for the scheme.

The Research Project Director of AIMS, CADENZA Fellow, Assistant Professor of HKU Department of Social Work and Social Administration Dr Ng Siu Man held a media conference to release findings of a longitudinal study of AIMS on January 15. The project compared the participants’ conditions at the time of joining the project, 4 months afterwards, and 8 months afterwards, with measures in self-esteem, life satisfaction, physical and mental health. Results revealed that participants maintained a stable mental health, without showing deterioration in the retiring process. There were improvements in positive affect, and physical health, and a decrease in anxiety level. More than a half of them developed new active interests.

To further promote active interests, the project will organize the 2nd Active Interest Expo at the Sky Dome Atrium Discovery Park in Tsuen Wan tomorrow (January 19) from 11am to 5pm. The event includes active interest performance, sharing of retiring experience, and exhibition booths for various active interests. Details are as follows:

2nd Active Interest Expo Inauguration Ceremony
Date: January 19, 2013 (Saturday)
Time: 1pm
Venue: Sky Dome Atrium Discovery Park in Tsuen Wan
Officiating guests:
Chairman of Elderly Commission Professor Chan Cheung-ming,. 
CADENZA Project Director Professor Jean Woo

About CADENZA: A Jockey Club Initiative for Seniors
CADENZA: A Jockey Club Initiative for Seniors is launched and funded by The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust in light of the rapidly aging population.  It is a HK$380 million project in partnership with the Faculty of Social Sciences of The University of Hong Kong and the Faculty of Medicine of The Chinese University of Hong Kong.  The project aims at creating an elder-friendly environment in Hong Kong to foster positive community attitude towards ageing and continuously improve the quality of care and quality of life of older people.  CADENZA has four major components: public education, community projects, training, and leadership training programme and research. Details of CADENZA are available at http://www.cadenza.hk/.

For enquiries about the project, please contact Dr Herman Lo (tel: 3917 2098/e-mail: hermanlohk@gmail.com). For media enquiries, please contact Ms Trinni Choy Pui Ying, Assistant Director (Media), Communications & Public Affairs Office (tel: 2859 2606, email: pychoy@hku.hk) or Ms Melanie Wan (Manager (Media), Communications and Public Affairs Office) tel: 2859 2600 email: melwkwan@hku.hk.