Imagine we were employees of a transnational company, putting in so much effort in our job. It would be unfair and resentful for us if we did not get anything in return. Similarly, the elderly, being the headstone of our metropolis, are also situated in this pathetic circumstance. Although they toiled hard to prosper Hong Kong in the past, they are not paid back when they are now in need. Complaints about medication and welfare which come from the previous generation abound. We should lose no time in confronting the problem and showing our gratefulness to the aged ones with much contribution.
Before we seek ways to fulfil their needs, we should gain an insight into some plights from which the elderly’s need stem. These hardships can briefly be catogorized into physical and psychological problems.
On the corporeal side, the elderly bear the brunt of poverty in our society. Many grassroots in the fifties and sixties would not have planned for their retirement but just worked round the clock. They did not have much savings either as they had a bunch of kids to bring up. Consequently, they now could just rely on their scanty deposits to live through their entire life. These elderly mainly settle in aged buildings at old districts like Wan Chai and Sham Shui Po. Their flats are crowded and sultry as other tenants are sharing the places and facilities with them. What makes their lives even harder is their deficient income every month. The Old Age Allowance only consists of a thousand dollars which is barely enough for them to buy fruits every day. However, old people who did not have savings heavily depend on this subsidy as the sole source of income. Some of them cannot even afford three meals a day!
Besides, physical abuse of the elderly is increasingly prevalent in our society. As modern families do not value the traditional belief of piety, Sons and daughters offer less respect to their parents than before. When they have conflicts, it is easy for them to feel aggrieved and counter attack with their fists. Moreover, the elderly are so coward that they prefer swallowing all the insults and hurts. It gradually leads to the frequent happenings of these shameful incidents. The reports revealed by the media are just the tip of the iceberg.
Apart from it, the senior citizens are spiritually abandoned by their families and communities. Although some of them are financially supported by their children, most of them are distant. Those pledges saying that the elders would be accompanied by their sunshine boys and girls day and night are mostly blank cheques without being realized. Instead, some of them are even sent to the home for the elderly for having “a better attention”. Even if our elders do not live there, they are relatively inactive in this thriving city. Their physical handicaps block their ways to merge into the territory. Many old people are unable to walk downstairs to join any activities held by the NGOs. Therefore, the elderly are seriously isolated by the conscienceless majority.
After noticing difficulties faced by the elders, we should not watch the situation with folded arms. Instead, the government, community groups and families have to join hands to combat the worsening livelihood of the elders.
To begin with, the government should take the initiatives to eliminate this problem. It is laudable that the government is launching the campaign to appreciate the aged. But these campaigns are not sufficient. As a responsible government, it should stress on coping with elderly poverty. Pensions like subsidising the electricity bills can be implemented to these elders who do not have any properties and whose deposits are below $100,000. These policies can relieve the financial burden of the senior citizens and they can al least enjoy a better life by not scanting their usage of power.
While the government is supporting the elderly monetarily, the community should also shoulder part of the responsibilities. The public transport company should continue their provisions of two-dollar trip on Wednesday and extend it to all weekdays. These preferential discounts can encourage them to travel around. As for the disabled, the NGOs can organise more voluntary door to door visiting services which aim at understanding their actual demands. These kinds of help will give the elderly the sense of warmth and care so that they will not feeling abandoned.
The mental emptiness of our elders can be filled by us as their close family members too. In order to bridge the gap between us and our grandparents, communications is the most effective tool we can invite them to have lunch once a week, concerning about the recent health conditions, or simply listening to some old stories happened in their childhood. Only when we are thrilled to meet and talk with them, our revered ones can be heartened and adopt appositive life attitude again.
To conclude, it is everybody’s business to hand our dearest elders. If we keep turning a blind eye to them, sooner and later, senior citizens will become our heaviest burden, but not the most valuable treasure.