Hong Kong elderly with dementia should receive early care before diagnosis, mental health advisory chief says scmp.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from scmp.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Hong Kong retiree Henry Chan, 72, is committed to keeping his brain healthy. To maintain cognitive function, keep his memory sharp and stave off age-related conditions such as dementia, he eats a wholesome diet, exercises regularly, reads and socialises with friends. "I live a healthy lifestyle, following a low-fat diet, eating antioxidant-rich and high-fibre foods like vegetables, fruit and whole.
According to the latest population projections from 2017 to 2066 released by the Census and Statistics Department, the elderly aged 65 or above will constitute 30% of the population within 15 years. The situation of elderly population exceeding 2.5 million is expected to last for 30 years. As the problem of population ageing is getting worse, the government should review existing policies for the elderly as soon as possible, and strengthen community care measures accordingly.
Among various elderly care measures, it is particularly critical to improve the home safety awareness.
A community survey found that as high as 40% of the elderly have experienced accidental falls at home. Falls not only cause physical and mental trauma to them, but it also imposes a heavy financial burden to the society. A study released 10 years ago estimated that the 25 million falls suffered by a 20 million elderly population in China every year incurred direct medical costs of about RMB 5 billion and soci