Po Leung Kuk Joyous Dementia Training Program

promotes awareness of dementia symptoms and prevents the disease by early intervention

(28 June 2021, Hong Kong) Dementia is a common disease in Hong Kong. According to the information from the Department of Health, about one-tenth of the elderly in Hong Kong suffer from dementia. In response to the social needs, Po Leung Kuk (PLK), sponsored by the Bank of China (Hong Kong) (“BOCHK”), has launched the Joyous Dementia Training Program since March 2020, to ensure patients can receive necessary treatment at the earliest possible time and provide support services for the caregivers.

The Joyous Dementia Training Program aims to promote the sensitivity of the community, the demented and their caregivers to dementia. In addition, by early detection and intervention, the program would help to identify the elderly with mild cognitive impairment, and assist them to alleviate cognitive decline through training and social activities.

Recently, Po Leung Kuk has held a sharing session for the program, and was honoured to have Mr HO Kai Ming, JP, Under Secretary for Labour and Welfare, and Mr Jimmy SUN, General Manager of Institutional Business Department of BOCHK, as officiating guests. Mr L LAM, Chairman of Po Leung Kuk, stated at the event that the smooth implementation of the program was made possible thanks to the concerted efforts of the PLK service team and the staunch support of BOCHK, which brings this year’s theme “Together for Inclusion  Kindness for All” into full play and benefits the society at large.

A total of 13 PLK elderly centres have participated in the program and have offered dementia assessments to 1,300 elders and training for 195 elders with early symptoms of dementia. Training activities are based on three major aspects, namely motor coordination, cognitive and sensory functions, and life skills, which involves sports, games, music, art, nature and daily living. Courses include Finnish chess, horticultural therapy, tea ceremony, etc., providing cognitive training three sessions a week for the elderly with mild cognitive impairment, in order to slow down the decline in cognitive status through regular and routine exercises. The program also supports the caregivers by inviting Chinese medicine practitioners and dietitians to share tips in patient care, and organises activities to teach them how to accommodate the needs in patients’ care and mitigate their stress. At the same time, the program has organised public educational activities for more than 5,000 attendances to enhance public awareness of dementia.

In line with the program, Po Leung Kuk has set up the “Joyous Resource Corners” at the 13 elderly centres. The resource corners are equipped with different types of cognitive training board games, which are used during training in centres, and can be borrowed by the elderly, caregivers or people in need to continue their training at home, so as to improve their cognitive and sensory functions.

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