Currently, there are over 1.3 million elderly people aged 60 or above in Hong Kong, and there is an increasing number of senior citizens suffering from Alzheimer’s disease. The Link has continually supported the needs of senior citizens in the community by providing appropriate health information to them. In line with this, The Link is offering its support to the “Jockey Club Charles Kao Brain Health Services” programme.

To increase public awareness of Alzheimer’s disease, St James’ Settlement, the Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust and the Charles Kao Foundation jointly launched the 3-year “Jockey Club Charles Kao Brain Health Services” programme to provide the public with community education on Alzheimer’s disease and related services. This programme will provide those suspected of having memory problems and their families with free one-stop services. The commencement ceremony of the mobile service was held on 25 May 2013 at The Link’s Stanley Plaza, marking the official kick-off of the service across Hong Kong.

First vehicle in Hong Kong to serve patients with Alzheimer’s disease
Invited dignitaries include Dr Ko Wing Man, Secretary for Food and Health; Dr Edward Leong Che Hung, Chairman of the Charles Kao Foundation Advisory Council; Douglas So, Executive Director, Charities, The Hong Kong Jockey Club; Gwen Kao, Chairwoman of the Charles Kao Foundation; Michael Leung Kai Hung, Vice-chairman of the Executive Committee of St James’ Settlement; and K T Poon, Director (Government & Community Engagement) of The Link, together with celebrities Teresa Mo and Ronald Cheng, who were invited  to witness the unveiling of Hong Kong’s first-ever vehicle specialising in providing services to patients with Alzheimer’s disease. The public will be provided with more information on Alzheimer’s disease to add to the currently available services for its detection and treatment.

Free one-stop services will be provided throughout Hong Kong
The “Jockey Club Charles Kao Brain Health Services” is Hong Kong’s first-ever vehicle that provides specialised information on Alzheimer’s disease. The 16-tonne vehicle has meeting and activity rooms where meetings with patients’ families and initial assessments can be carried out at the same time. Cognitive exercises can be provided to 6 to 8 elderly people with memory problems. The mobile service vehicle will visit all districts in Hong Kong in the coming 3 years, including those with The Link’s shopping centres and will spend an average of 2 months in each district. Registered social workers and nurses will provide community education and services on Alzheimer’s disease with professional advice, aiming to increase public awareness towards this disease and achieve early prevention and prompt treatment. In addition, the mobile services vehicle can provide patients and family members one-stop services for free.

The “Jockey Club Charles Kao Brain Health Services” mobile services vehicle will commence in June with the following schedule: