Weather website launched for the elderly

With winter’s chill setting in, the Hong Kong Observatory has launched a website tailor-made for older people, with a magnifying function for reading weather updates.

The website, available in Chinese and English, is a collaborative project with the charity Senior Citizen Home Safety Association.

Irene Leung Shuk-yee, the association’s chief executive, said older people were increasingly using the internet to stay informed about the rest of society. The association’s Wong Tai Sin centre also offers computer classes to the elderly.

When the weather turns cold or rainy, the site will display a warning and suggest precautions for people to take.

Winters were uncomfortable for many older people, whose joints could become stiff or sore in harsh weather, Leung said. On an average day, the association receives about 2,100 calls for advice, including around 100 emergency calls to be taken to hospital.