1. health and fitness
2. therapy

Vol 2 Issue 2 Coastal
Chronicle
The newsletter of the China Coast Community March / April 2015 A SMALL BUT IMPORTANT STEP IN OUR JOURNEY Yeone Fok speaks: Giving back to our elderly
There is arguably no more noble cause than giving back to our elderly, whose ac8ons yesterday laid the seeds that take root today and bear fruit tomorrow. The China Coast Community (CCC) operates in a very unique sphere within Hong Kong, being the only care and aBen8on home catering to an English speaking community of elderly. The need for an English language care home persists today as Hong Kong con8nues to be home to one of the most ethnically and culturally diverse groups of individuals. This includes many who have seBled in Hong Kong from other parts of the world but remain more comfortable conversing in an English language environment. Hong Kong’s elderly enjoy longer and healthier lives than their counterparts in both London and New York. Recent es8mates highlight that around one third of Hong Kong’s popula8on will be 65 years or older by 2041. With the elderly requiring six 8mes more in-­‐pa8ent care than younger people, the need for quality health care services in the city is more important than ever. Within our own community of elderly at the CCC we have similarly seen the profile of our residents shiT to one requiring increasing assistance with daily nursing care. Much more than simply an elderly facility, the CCC is truly a home for its residents, offering not just a pillow to rest one’s head, but an en8re community of carers, nurses, well-­‐wishers and family from all quarters. Ou8ngs, games, performances and events draw the community together regularly and provide a safe and happy environment for our residents and extended family of all ages to enjoy. The CCC has been a home for more than 35 years and requires an upgrade of its facili8es as it enters the next 35 years. Two of the double rooms were refurbished into ensuite rooms last year with delighYul new interiors, small kitcheneBe, sea8ng area and table for guests, as well as flat screen television. We need to con8nue to make significant improvements to improve safety and quality of life for residents. This includes further interior refurbishments to aBract more ac8ve and youthful 60-­‐plus residents, safety features such as widening access points and enhancing the fire service system, and reducing maintenance costs such as water-­‐proofing of the roof and upda8ng the air condi8oning system. In addi8on to these physical improvements, we con8nue to recruit nursing staff of the highest quality to ensure our residents receive an exemplary standard of care. It is the dedica8on and passion of the full range of staff at CCC – caring for residents in their rooms, in the garden, in the kitchen – who make the CCC so special. HearYelt thanks to our sponsors and donors who keep the CCC running and special gra8tude to Miss Vijai Singh and the en8re staff at CCC for their invaluable daily contribu8ons. Please remember our community of elderly and contribute today so we may con8nue providing the best to our community tomorrow. Yeone Fok Yeone Fok is a member of the Execu5ve Commi8ee of the China Coast Community. IN THIS ISSUE Rosemary Remedios…
Our Resident of the Month has seen Hong Kong develop and grow and has many a tale to regale us with! Page 2 A Case for Hong Kong…
What makes Hong Kong a retirement destination for our residents. A peek into their mind. Page 3 Busy, or Simply Occupied?
What does CCC offer to its Residents? A study of their activity calendars for March and April! Page 4 And a new set of photos…
Fresh from the photographer’s studio! Page 2 COASTAL CHRONICLE | THE NEWSLETTER OF THE CHINA COAST COMMUNITY | Vol 2 Issue 2
2 Our Resident of the Month: Rosemary Remedios
Rosemary Remedios was born on March 23, 1936 in Hong Kong and has 8 siblings. She has a daughter and son, and is very proud of their achievements. Rosemary graduated from St Clare’s Girls School, Hong Kong, and then studied nursing at RuBonjee Hospital, aTer which she worked in the infants department there. Later she worked at Dr C P Yang’s private clinic. ATer a long s8nt in the medical world, she decided to join PCCW and worked there for 12 years. But a role she remembers with great fondness is serving as the president of the Parent Teacher Associa8on at St Joan of Arc School between 1980 and 1984. She enjoyed giving away trophies and awards on Sports Days, addressing opening ceremonies at various events such as fund raising walkathons and chairing discussions with parents. She recalls how her photographs would appear in local newspapers. Her hobby is photography. And she has a lot of photographs displayed in her room, which she says is a showcase of her history. She is related to the famous Ho Tung family. She says Stanley Ho was her neighbour while she lived on Conduit Road. Rosemary came to CCC in 2005 aTer a one-­‐year wait. She loves the place and is sa8sfied with the service, the room and the overall environment. For this she is very grateful to Ms Singh, the general manager of CCC, and thanks her and the Staff for taking very good care of her. George Harris & Elaine at Felix Peninsula Jeanne & Jean Wood Birthday Rosemary Remedios Community members at Felix a;ernoon tea party HKU SPACE nursing students Miss Singh & Community Members at Felix Peninsula Community members at Felix Peninsula Albert, Teresa & friend at Felix Peninsula Fantas5c All at Diana’s Birthday YMCA students Carlota & friend at Felix Peninsula COASTAL CHRONICLE | THE NEWSLETTER OF THE CHINA COAST COMMUNITY | Vol 2 Issue 2
Hong Kong: Much to Write Home About
The long-­‐held percep8on that Hong Kong is not meant for ageing expats is fast changing. Its connec8vity to the world and its large pool of trained and affordable helpers are encouraging more and more expats to seBle down on the island. In early March 2015, RTHK’s Anna Healy Fenton delved into the topic by interviewing finance experts, expatriates living at homes for senior ci8zens, and the General Manager of China Coast Community. Bill Ahern, a long-­‐8me Hong Kong resident and finance expert said that the number of expatriates returning to their home countries is declining. It is not just the old colonials like expat policemen and expat civil servants who are staying back in Hong Kong, but a much wider group. Earlier, all expatriates would return home, except the Bri8sh, who would choose to go to warmer des8na8ons like Spain. The Canadians, Australians, Americans and Europeans would all return to their home countries once they re8red. But this trend is changing. Expatriates are beginning to perceive Hong Kong as good for re8rement, aBracted by its loca8on as well as connec8vity to their families in other countries. Their children are also coming to seBle here aTer comple8ng secondary schooling or university educa8on. Bill says an aBrac8on is Hong Kong’s tax structure, which is benign compared to that in the US and UK. Expatriates have also realized that the quality of care, and the price at which it is offered, is far superior to what is available in their home countries. The cost of employing a domes8c helper in Hong Kong is about HK$4000 a month. Even if three helpers with nursing qualifica8ons from the Philippines are employed, it would cost an expatriate about HK$12,000 a month. By contrast, in the UK that would be just a week’s cost. Bill said his father was being looked aTer by a ‘tribe of carers’ in Brisbane, Australia, and it costs him about A$100,000 a year. He said Hong Kong was a great place to grow old so long as you owned your house. The key to living in Hong Kong is to own your own flat; the day-­‐to-­‐day living costs are not much. What do people who have not adequately provided for their older years do, given that Hong Kong is not a ‘loser-­‐friendly’ city? Vijai Singh, general manager, China Coast Community (CCC), said the Centre has people from various na8onali8es, all of whom speak English, have worked in Hong Kong and have chosen Hong Kong to be their home. She says some expats who have married local women perhaps find it difficult or do not prefer to go back and and reseBle in their home countries. Some are brought out as dependents by their children who are resident in Hong Kong. Over a period they find taking care of the elderly very demanding and prefer to send them to CCC for more specialized care and aBen8on. When asked about the cost of living at CCC, she said that residents who can afford it, pay HK$15,540 a month. Newcomers have to pay a two-­‐month deposit. Those on CSSA pay a lot less. This takes care of their board and lodge, physiotherapy, occupa8onal therapy and nursing care. If they need more specialized nursing care, CCC asks the family to provide an addi8onal helper. RTHK also interviewed Nihal Chulani, who has been living at CCC for nine months now. He previously lived in rented accommoda8on at Sea Ranch on Lantau Island for 18 years. Nihal, who came to Hong Kong in 1953, is originally from Pakistan. ATer ini8ally working for a company, he ran his own export business un8l 1994. He came to know about CCC through a friend. He said he likes it because it is an English-­‐speaking centre; he finds the management, food and staff excellent; and the place very clean. He wished he had come earlier to CCC. RTHK asked financial expert, Todd PalleB, how much money one needs to spend their twilight years in Hong Kong. He replied that an expat needed HK
$30,000-­‐40,000 a month, assuming the expat owned his/her home and mortgages were repaid. In other words, no rent trap. He said Hong Kong was the most expensive place in the world to buy real estate and con8nues to set new records every year, most of it driven by the Chinese mainlanders buying property here. He said hiring a helper was cheap and all du8es were taken care of. Hong Kong is well connected for travel and there is no capital-­‐gains tax. Expats are also looking at neighbouring countries like the Philippines, Thailand, and Indonesia, where re8rement and medical care are cheaper and facili8es have become world-­‐class. If there can be medical tourism, why not re8rement tourism? South Asia, aTer all, is warmer and cheaper. For most expats in Hong Kong the decision to re8re here is more about con8nuing normal life. A case in point is SCMP financial columnist, Jake Van Der Kamp. He came to Hong Kong 36 years ago. He said, “I liked the place, I married here, my kids were born here. We’ve got a lovely home. I find it a congenial place to live in. I feel no specific urge to go back to Canada to live. I am fine about living here.” Asked if there were any disadvantages about deciding to live in Hong Kong forever, he said, “well I have to discover them as they come along”. He added: “The biggest disadvantage about seBling here is if you don’t have your house covered; but if you have that one covered and are quite happy to eat noodles and rice, the costs are not high at all.” 3 COASTAL CHRONICLE | THE NEWSLETTER OF THE CHINA COAST COMMUNITY | Vol 2 Issue 2
4 March 2015
Sunday
Monday
2
Curry Buffet hosted
by Bombay
Dreams;
Birthday
Celebrations with
Spanish Ladies
9
Our residents lead such active lives!
1
Bingo with Hands
On Volunteers
8
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
3
4
5
6
7
Reflexology with
Avice
Yoga with Miss
Singh
Physiotherapy
Occupational
Therapy;
Bingo
Junior Presidium
10
11
12
13
14
Occupational
Therapy;
Bingo
Music with Fantastic
All
Filipina Choir &
Mass
Physiotherapy
Reflexology with
Avice
Yoga with Miss
Singh
Physiotherapy;
Afternoon Tea at
The Peninsula
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
Bingo with Hands
On Volunteers
Physiotherapy;
Communion with
Rev. Ross
Physiotherapy
Occupational
Therapy;
Bingo
Visit by Members of
The Island
Evangelical
22
23
25
26
27
28
Movie
Physiotherapy;
Rosemary
Remedios' Birthday!
Movie
Physiotherapy
Occupational
Therapy;
Bingo
29
30
Physiotherapy;
Birthday
Celebrations with
Spanish Ladies
Music with the
Secret Sing group
Reflexology with
Avice
24
Reflexology with
Avice;
Hand massage with
Shimmi
31
Reflexology with
Avice;
Hand massage with
Shimmi
April 2015
Sunday
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
5
6
7
1
Hair & Nails with
Fatima;
Yoga with Miss
Singh
8
EASTER SUNDAY
Bingo with Hands
On Volunteers
EASTER MONDAY
Physiotherapy
CHING MING
FESTIVAL
Yoga with Miss
Singh
13
Physiotherapy;
Curry Buffet hosted
by Bombay
Dreams;
Communion with
Rev. Ross
20
14
Reflexology with
Avice;
Hand massage with
Shimmi
12
Filipina Choir &
Mass
19
Bingo with Hands
On Volunteers
26
Music with the
Secret Sing group
Physiotherapy;
Josephine Piper's
Birthday!
27
Physiotherapy;
Monthly Birthday
celebrations with
the Spanish Ladies
Coastal
Chronicle
The newsletter
of the
China
Coast
Community
21
Reflexology with
Avice;
Hand massage with
Shimmi
28
Reflexology with
Avice;
Hand massage with
Shimmi
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
2
3
4
Physiotherapy
GOOD FRIDAY
Occupational
Therapy
Junior Presidium
9
10
11
Physiotherapy
Occupational
Therapy;
Bingo
Music with Fantastic
All
15
16
17
18
Yoga with Miss
Singh
Physiotherapy
Occupational
Therapy;
Bingo
Entertainment by
student from Sin Yin
Boys School
22
23
24
25
Yoga with Miss
Singh
Physiotherapy
Occupational
Therapy;
Bingo
Welsh Male Voice
Choir
29
30
Physiotherapy
The China Coast Community, set up in 1979, is a care and attention home for the English-­‐
speaking elderly regardless of their financial circumstances. It is located at 63 Cumberland Road, Kowloon Tong, Kowloon, Hong Kong. We are available at: Web: www.chinacoastcommunity.org.hk Phone: +852 2337 7266 Email: [email protected] To subscribe to the Coastal Chronicle, please send an email to [email protected] Visit us on Facebook! Go to www.facebook.com/chinacoastcommunity