'Link workers' help fight elderly loneliness

Ben Wong, a lawyer in his fifties, is training to become a volunteer link worker to combat elderly loneliness in Hong Kong. His first client, an elderly man who had shut himself off after his dog died, was once living alone with instant noodles and alcohol. Wong gradually helped him open up, learning about his beloved pet and planning a funeral to honor it.

Together, they met other dog owners and visited parks and markets, with Wong even taking the man to the district elderly community center. The man began attending community events like rehearsing for the center's Christmas party and engaging in conversations with neighbors. Wong aims to provide personalized "social prescriptions" for around 300 senior citizens in New Territories East, a program that offers these clients access to appropriate activities and resources.

A recent survey revealed that one in five Hongkongers feel lonely, which is higher than the global average of 16 percent. Many seniors do not have physical illnesses; rather, they require social support to cope with loneliness. Experts argue that social prescribing serves as a bridge between medical and social sectors, connecting elderly patients with the appropriate social venues and resources.

This approach is particularly beneficial in addressing loneliness and chronic diseases, as social determinants of health play a more significant role than clinical treatments alone. The Our Hong Kong Foundation emphasizes the need for the government to incorporate social prescribing into its policy agenda, as the city's primary health blueprint focuses more on medical aspects and less on medical-social collaboration.

They also suggest establishing city-wide professional training and qualification frameworks for link workers to cultivate more talent to address loneliness and chronic diseases associated with it.