Macau: Alexis Tam has 10-year plan for the elderly

Secretary visited the Service Complex Support Senior Citizen "Pou Tai" -


 Elderly people are a central concern in the presentation of the Policy Address by the Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture, which says it is developing a strategy that includes multiple services and could lead to hiring more social workers. Alexis Tam also promises to invest in all support services for the elderly who have "better quality of life"


less than a month to present the Policy Address of his tutelage in 2016, the Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture ensures that the elderly "will be an important part of the measures" presented, adding that are being outlined more long-term strategies . "For next year, we will begin to implement a long-term plan for the next 10 years, with the aim of developing services for the elderly. It covers areas such as health, services, and may involve more social workers. Basically, it is a general plan, "said Alexis Tam on the sidelines of a visit to the Support Services Complex Senior Citizen" Pou Tai ".

The fact that the population of the territory to be experiencing a gradual aging produces the Ruler of concerns that promises to "increase the support services related to the elderly," not just those that directly affect them but other more comprehensive, such as facilities health care. "We must invest in services for older people are able to have better quality of life and to be healthy," he said.

At the same time, Alexis Tam pledged to increase the number of beds available in nursing homes, 1,700 to 2,500, by 2018. "We want to provide enough [beds]. Citizens do not have to worry about. "

At the end of the visit to the center, the Secretary said he was "particularly satisfied" with the services provided there which allow the elderly to live "with health and happiness." Through contact with users, Alexis Tam concluded that users are happy at the center. "Happiness demonstrated that can not be faked, it mirrors what they feel," he said.


This openness has contributed to the willingness to invest more in similar structures in the future, he said. "Our government is doing a good job and, as I mentioned, this is an area in which I will also invest more. For example, we should build more nursing homes or centers like this that aim to keep the more active seniors. "


Older people may

return to work

Active aging has also been a concern of the Social Welfare Bureau (IAS) who presented in late July the Seniors Protection Mechanism.

Speaking to Macao TRIBUNE NEWSPAPER, President of the IAS, Iong Kong Io, he recalled being finalized a plan to be in place by 2025 which implies the involvement of different services. "We have met with more than 10 services and is the IAS that assumes the central role in coordinating this group. Our goal is to create more resources to the elderly have a more active life and higher quality, "he said.

At the time of the mechanism presentation data were presented to cope with the fact that the Macau active population aged over 65 has increased by around 3% between 2008 and 2014, which led the IAS to announce that it would consider reintegration into the labor market of people already retired.

In this regard, assured Iong Kong Io, "IAS has collaborated with the Directorate of Services for Labour Affairs to try to encourage private institutions to recruit older people so that they get the opportunity to be re-integrated in the labor market." The leader caveat, however, that this is not "a must" that age group. "We just want those who are interested in returning to work, they can do it."

In addition to giving incentives to companies and institutions to hire older people, the IAS aims to "reward the institutions to do so."

Iong Kong Io also attended the visit to the Services Complex Support Senior Citizen "Pou Tai", opened in 2013, offering continuous care services, working 24 hours a day. It has areas for treatment of dementia, physical therapy rooms, occupational therapy. The center has 140 employees and a capacity of 297 elderly in inpatient services and 80 in the regular treatment service.


The same space includes a "Service Complex to Support Youth and Family" for up to 351 users and has counseling services, development support, and encourage the sport and a closer relationship with the music through the promotion activities in these areas.