Earlier this year, the fifth wave of the Covid-19 pandemic in Hong Kong, claimed the precious lives of more than 9,000 people. According to information from the Centre for Health Protection of the Department of Health and the Hospital Authority, the cumulative mortality rate for confirmed patients aged 70 or above was as high as 87 per cent.
Recently, infection numbers have risen above the 1,000 mark, but serious cases and deaths have been remained in the single digits.
Since the outbreak of pandemic more than two years ago, nursing homes for the elderly have prohibited their residents from going out [except for medical services]. Even visits from family members are suspended due to the pandemic. But even in nursing homes, the elderly can still get infected.
For the elderly confined to nursing homes, video-calls and Zoom meetings have become a common mode of communication. However, the “software” of human input is still needed. Many complain that they have not seen family members for more than two years. Prolonged loneliness has also led to have problems such as depression. Questions remain as to whether they truly know how to utilise their devices, and whether nursing homes have the resources to let elderly residents to regularly video-conference with their families.
On June 25, the Diocese of Hong Kong held a thanksgiving Mass to conclude the Year Amoris Laetitia Family [On Love in the Family], at the time that the Tenth World Meeting of Families concluded.
Pope Francis hoped that through spiritual, pastoral and cultural endeavours, the spirit of the apostolic exhortation, Amoris Laetitia [Joy of Love], on the beauty and joy of love in the family could be shared and promoted; the joy of love experienced by families is also the joy of the Church, and the family is a gift for the Church and society [Apostolic Exhortation #1, Amoris Laetitia].
We should not forget that a family comprises not only the husband and wife, and children [young people], but also grandparents [elderly people]. According to the pastoral directives for the Year Amoris Laetitia Family issued by the Dicastery for Laity, Family and Life last year, the pastoral action plan emphasised the importance of elderly people in the family. The value of elderly people is affirmed through celebrating the World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly. We are also asked to be more proactive in contending against the culture of abandonment that prevails in society. We should serve as a bridge to strengthen the relationship between the elderly and young people, and to help elderly people to be active evangelists
The Bioethics Resource Centre held the 8th Catholic Bioethics Conference on Hospice care for the Elderly – Catholic offers Spiritual response. The conference explored, from different angles, the spiritual needs of elderly people, and sought to meet their needs through the provision of social and medical services as well as pastoral care appropriate under prevailing social situation and requirements. SE
