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The ageing population trend has led to increased emphasis being put on developing technological applications and innovations as a promising solution to enhance the quality of life of the elderly.

The Club has long been proactively addressing challenges arising from the city’s ageing population, and the Elderly is one of four strategic focus areas for its Charities Trust contributions.

One of the Trust’s latest donations has been made to support the Gerontech and Innovative Expo cum Summit 2018 (GIES 2018), which took place at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre in late November. The event showcased innovative technological products and creative ideas from local and overseas organisations, as well as provided an exchange and collaboration platform for enhancing the quality of life of the elderly.

This year’s GIES displayed around 380 inventions and products that could be useful to the daily lives of the elderly, including smart home devices, elderly care appliances and nutritious foods. A Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust Pavilion was also set up to showcase elderly and technological elements of 12 projects initiated or supported by the Trust.

For example, visitors could learn about the Jockey Club Community eHealth Care Project through playing a digital interactive game and a virtual reality game, illustrating how innovation and technology are being applied to encourage the elderly to build self-management habits and gain a better understanding of their own health.

There were also displays showing e-tools for elderly care, including online courses and a mobile app created as part of CADENZA: A Jockey Club Initiative for Seniors. Exhibition boards featured a new smart training system to be launched by the CADENZA Hub in 2019, providing one-stop integrated medical and social care services to promote the importance of primary healthcare among middle-aged and elderly people.

Also on show were two more mobile apps developed under the Trust-supported Jockey Club Centre for Positive Ageing, namely the “Finding Missing Elderly with Dementia” app which helps caregivers find lost elderly people with dementia, and the “One Click to Know Dementia” app which provides caregivers with all-round support.

A summit held during the four-day Expo featured keynote and plenary sessions led by local and international experts, who exchanged views on the future development of elderly care in Hong Kong. The speakers touched on topics such as how gerontechnology can be widely and effectively applied to strengthen elderly care at home, as well as to improve the well-being of the elderly.