The ageing population has become an increasingly worrying problem for our city. Last year, your grandfather retired from his work. He felt bored and upset for a few months. He decided to change his lifestyle and is now a happy man. Write an article to a local newspaper about your grandfather’s changes. Based on his experience, suggest possible ways to cope with the aging problem in Hong Kong.
Aging problem — a problem not to be overlooked
The aging population has become an increasingly worrying problem in our city. According to the recent statistics of the Census and Statistics Department, the Hong Kong population is projected to reach 8.47 million in 2041, with one out of four aged 65 or above. One can imagine the impending seriousness of this issue if the fact of only 1 out of 8 citizens being aged 65 or above at present is given.
Reaching the age of 60, employees have to retire from their work. My grandfather, aged 61, is no exception. He, used to work as a Chinese teacher in a secondary school, felt bored and upset for a few months last year. At first, he was the head of the Chinese Department in the school and much devoted to teaching. His strong passion in Chinese teaching had no parallel and had once made me, a ‘Chinese-hater’, fall in love with the beauty of the language.
Everyone expected that my grandfather should be happy and satisfied after retirement. Yet, the truth was the opposite. He started to be grumpy and always brainwashed me with the traditional Chinese passages. Knowing that my grandfather might suffer from depression after retirement, I sought help from my school’s social worker. He arranged meetings and lessons in the social welfare center near my home for my grandfather, hoping that he could change his lifestyle after a long period of exhortation and consolation. Fortunately, our plans worked and my grandfather has made a lot of acquaintances in the center since then. As he has lots of friends to share his stories with, he feels much relieved and optimistic. It cannot be denied that it is the care he has received that changes his outlook of life.
The case of my grandfather has reminded me of the vast elderly people who are in dire need, awaiting care. Hongkongers can actually work hand-in-hand to alleviate the problems brought by the aging population.
As what my grandfather has experienced, obviously care is of utmost importance to the elderly people. Sometimes, teenagers or adults may think that monetary assistance is the panacea to make their grandparents or parents happy. Yet, what they truly need is simply care from our hearts and the willingness to listen to what they want to share. The aged citizens can live much happier and the chance of them suffering from depression and mood swings can be minimized with proper support and care from the ones around them.
What is more, the government should not underestimate the need to provide the elderly people with good and proper welfare. Despite the fact that the government has launched the Comprehensive Social Security Assistance Scheme and Old Age Allowance Scheme, the elderly citizens may still be pressed for money for medication as they are more prone to diseases. With medical advancements, our city’s death rate has thereby dropped drastically. More resources should yet be deployed to the health care sector in a bid to shorten the waiting time of the elderly people receiving proper medical treatment.
Last but not least, the elderly people can be transformed from a burden in a family to a capital. This could be done by holding various activities and courses in the social welfare centers for the elderly to take part. Take my grandfather’s experience as an illustration, the courses in the center have helped him become more independent and jubilant at the same time. Aged people are indeed invaluable assets to society because they have had rich life experiences which could definitely help in the development of our city. For my grandfather, his deep-seated knowledge in Chinese has helped many children in the social welfare center to regain their interest in Chinese. If he is able to contribute to society, it is also possible for all other elderly ones. The only thing left is the chance to make them shine after retirement. Thus, if their potential can be unwound, the aging population will no longer be a problem.
In conclusion, the aging population has undeniably become a mounting phenomenon in Hong Kong. While some may think that there could be pressing issues to cope with, aged people are, in fact, blessings to society. Thus, it is high time various parties joined hands to help the grey hair overcome their difficulties and shine in our city, in the twilight years.
6E 2015-16
Tsang Yui Long, Ronald