Hong Kong Fights Loneliness Among Seniors With Art

TaiwanPlus News

As Hong Kong's population ages, elderly people are also getting more lonely. One initiative aims to help the city's older residents reconnect with society through art.

Transcript

00:00Within her home in Hong Kong, retired factory worker Lee Soo Kum is learning how to use

00:08colored pencils to sketch the reds and greens of the plant in front of her.

00:16At 77 years old, Lee says she's grateful to be learning a new hobby.

00:20It's more fulfilling. I don't have to wait to eat, sleep, or wait for the sun to rise.

00:30Even though it's too late to learn, it's good to help.

00:37When I have time, I can do whatever I want.

00:39If I don't have time to watch TV, I can use it to learn.

00:43It's really similar to learning.

00:47Lee's drawing classes are part of a larger initiative in Hong Kong that brings artists

00:52to elderly care homes to help older people improve their mental health through art.

00:58It was launched in 2022 by the Evangelical Lutheran Church Social Service of Hong Kong

01:03and will go on for three years.

01:06Organizers say they hope art will help older people reconnect with society and themselves.

01:12Older people often say that their physical condition is getting worse,

01:17or that social networks are getting weaker, and they feel lonely.

01:22So we hope that through these art activities,

01:25we can connect with them and build a new interest.

01:31Hong Kong's population is aging.

01:33And by 2050, it's set to become the world's oldest city.

01:38By that time, an estimated 40% of its population will be 65 or older.

01:44And many of these elderly will feel lonely.

01:48The Chinese University of Hong Kong and the Salvation Army

01:52surveyed hundreds of residents aged 60 and over.

01:55They found around 68% said they were moderately or severely lonely.

02:01That's almost double the percentage that said so in 2018.

02:05There's hope that art can address this problem

02:08by adding meaning to people's lives.

02:29For Lee, at least, it seems to be working.

02:35She said drawing is fun and has made her daily routine more interesting.

02:40She has artwork to show for it, too, colorful flowers and animals.

02:45While the initiative may not be able to touch every elderly person in Hong Kong,

02:50it's at least brought a smile to this one.

02:53James Lin and Cadence Coranta for Taiwan Plus.

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