An old Chinese saying goes, “Reaching 70 years of age was rare in ancient times.” However, with rapid advances in medicine and technology, people now enjoy much longer lives, rendering this proverb outdated.
According to the Census and Statistics Department, the average life expectancy in Hong Kong is currently 88 for women and 82 for men. People aged 65 and above now make up over 20 per cent of the city’s total population of 7.5 million. Ageing is a natural process that everyone experiences, regardless of wealth or status.
In the Catholic Diocese of Hong Kong, many members of the clergy are already over 50 years old. They play a leading role in pastoral ministry, managing various parish matters, including personnel, the faith community, and spiritual issues. This responsibility may encourage independence but can sometimes lead to neglect of their own health.
As clergy age, they experience significant changes both physically and mentally compared to their younger years. How can they view their own ageing positively and learn to embrace this stage of life?
This year, the three-day study camp for clergy is themed “Holistic Care [Physical, Psychological, Social, and Spiritual] for the Elderly”. This focus is timely, equipping priests to care for the elderly in their parishes while also preparing them to embrace their own ageing, as well as that of their fellow priests.
Priests, like everyone else, grow older. The mental pressures they face can be considerable, particularly for those with introverted personalities. Without healthy coping strategies or support, emotional difficulties can develop, sometimes with serious consequences.
In addition, ageing brings physical changes, such as those affecting blood vessels and bodily functions. Dementia is another important concern. Old age is often associated with forgetfulness, blurred vision, poor hearing, and insomnia. Unfortunately, many people do not seek medical advice early, missing valuable opportunities for treatment and sometimes allowing conditions to worsen.
We often encourage older people to maintain both psychological and physical health. There are many community centres offering exercise and cognitive training for the elderly. However, with “the harvest is rich but the labourers are few”, elderly priests are often busy with parish duties and may have little time to attend these centres or participate in activities, making it difficult to maintain regular exercise or mental training.
Rather than waiting to develop treatment plans after illness occurs, it is better to start caring for your holistic health today to prevent problems before they arise.
Maintaining a positive outlook is also vital for mental wellbeing. Perspective matters: choosing to see the glass as half full can make a real difference. SE
