Survey finds 60pc of elderly avoid social activities to reduce spending
Nearly 60 per cent of elderly people avoid joining social activities to cut down on spending, a survey has found.
Of the 681 elderly people interviewed by the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong between October 30 and November 5, 57.7 per cent said they saved money by avoiding social activities. The party released the results yesterday to mark Elderly Day.
In the 1990s, the government made the third Sunday in November Elderly Day, the party said.
More than 35 per cent of respondents said they did not see doctors even when feeling unwell, and about 20 per cent did not have enough money for three meals a day. One-fourth mainly relied on the HK$1,000 old age allowance as their major source of income, and 10 per cent had to work to make extra money.
The DAB urged the government to set up a fund to subsidise employers of elderly workers and to introduce vouchers which elderly people could use for joining recreational activities the Leisure and Cultural Services Department organised. Free admission to all recreational facilities the LCSD managed should be given to all elderly people in Hong Kong, the party said. 'We hope the survey will arouse public awareness about elderly issues in society and show our love and care to them on Elderly Day,' it said.
Social welfare Legislator Cheung Kwok-che urged the government to review the retirement age so that those who wanted to continue working could stay in the labour force. At present, Cheung said, there was no official retirement age but most employment contracts stated 60 or 65.
Civil servants were required to retire at 55 on the old pension scheme and 60 on the new one. Those in the disciplined services were required to retire at 55 or 57, he added.
