The Hong Kong Sheng Kung Hui Welfare Council (the Welfare Council), The Hong Kong and China Gas Company Limited (Towngas) and the CUHK Jockey Club Institute of Ageing released a report on the effectiveness of the 'Chef Anchor 2.0' programme, which has proven to be effective in enhancing the physical, mental and social health of elderly people with subjective memory impairment. There are currently over 100,000 people living with dementia in Hong Kong.

According to a study, the number is expected to increase dramatically to over 300,000 by 2039, causing a situation that cannot be ignored. Subjective memory impairment (i.e. the feeling that one's memory and thinking skills have deteriorated before others are aware of it) is a symptom of early cognitive impairment. Elderly people with subjective memory impairment are still able to take care of themselves, but they feel worthless because they are often forgetful. On the other hand, carers are also faced with different challenges. For example, some patients still want to be able to flame cook independently, and carers are conflicted between worrying about the safety of the elderly and not wanting to deprive them of their autonomy, and are under increasing pressure to care for them.

Carers participating the programme for the first time The 'Chef Anchor 2.0' programme combined elements of occupational therapy with the professionalism of culinary instructors to integrate 'procedural memory' into recipes, illustrating detailed cooking steps with colours, fonts and photo captions and allowing patients with subjective memory impairment to undergo cognitive training during the cooking process. The programme also added a new component of carer participation, allowing the elderly and their carers to enjoy flame cooking together. The elderly could demonstrate their self-cooking skills and regain their confidence through the programme. At the same time, the programme also helped carers to think differently, and learn that the skill of caring for the elderly is to let go at the right time, so that the elderly can participate in sharing household chores and maintain their self-care skills. In addition, the programme promoted mutual appreciation, strengthened relationships and passed on family culture by enabling the elderly and carers to learn to make authentic home-cooked dishes together. The carers can also build up a support network through group meetings before and after the event to relieve their caring stress

Contact:

Media

The Hong Kong and China Gas Company Limited

Ms Judy Chan

General Manager

Corporate Affairs

Tel: 2963 3486

Fax: 2516 7368

Email: cad@towngas.com

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