With the aim of accomplishing the blueprint of a dementia-friendly city with different sectors of the community, MGM officially announced the launch of its brand new “MGM Dementia Care Program” today. In collaboration with Caritas Macau and various local community associations, the Program includes organizing local tours for elderly diagnosed with dementia, their family members and caregivers, as well as compiling a dementia guidebook and other community activities to provide the support they need. The objective of the program is to raise public awareness, so that patients and their caregivers are thoroughly accepted and understood by the society.
Pansy Ho, Co-chairperson & Executive Director of MGM China Holdings Limited, said, “MGM cares about our local elderly, and we have been organizing various community programs for them to enrich their later years. With the aim of further supporting the government’s initiative of ‘Ten-year Action Plan for Elderly Services,’ MGM continues to partner with different associations to roll out new and innovative social service programs. After launching the Macau Assistive Technology Resources Center with UGAMM, this year we take an extra mile by introducing this first new dementia care program to raise awareness in dementia prevention and public acceptance to the illness. As an enterprise deeply rooted in Macau, MGM will keep on fulfilling its corporate social responsibilities. Moving forward, we will keep providing undivided support to the SAR government, as well as joining hands with different sectors to make Macau into a dementia-friendly and inclusive society.”
The “MGM Dementia Care Program” is organized by MGM, co-organized by Caritas Macau, and supported by Kiang Wu Nursing College of Macau. The launch ceremony took place today (July 27) at the Ballroom of MGM COTAI, and was attended by a lineup of guests of honor, including Dai Ru Ming, Deputy Director of Social Affairs Department of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Macao SAR; Cheng Wai Tong, Acting Director of Macau Government Tourism Office; Kam Kit Leng, Chief of Elderly Service Division of Social Welfare Bureau (IAS); Wong Sio Mui, Representative of Health Bureau and Coordinator of Dementia Medical Center; Ho Sut Heng, President of Macau Federation of Trade Unions (FAOM); Ng Sio Lai, President of the Board of the General Union of Neighborhood Associations of Macau (UGAMM); Lam Un Mui, President of the Women’s General Association of Macau; Pun Chi Meng, Secretary General of Caritas Macau; Van Iat Kio, President of Kiang Wu Nursing College of Macau; Pansy Ho, Co-chairperson & Executive Director of MGM China Holdings Limited; and Kenneth Feng, President, Chief Strategic & Financial Officer of MGM. During the ceremony, Kam Kit Leng from IAS was invited to share with the audience about the government’s direction in creating a dementia-friendly society in Macau. She later joined a panel discussion with Wong Sio Mui from Health Bureau and Pun Chi Meng from Caritas Macau on exploring the issue of dementia in Macau. The ceremony was concluded with a recap video on the “Golden Lion Tour for Elderly with Dementia” and a performance presented by elderly and MGM volunteers to further promote inclusion.
“MGM Dementia Care Program” introduces a series of events on raising dementia awareness in the community, including the “Golden Lion Tour for Elderly with Dementia” launched earlier this year. This one-of-a-kind group tour is done in collaboration with Accessible Travel Agency of Caritas Macau, tailor-made for elderly with dementia from elderly care centers of Caritas Macau, their family members and caregivers, with an expected participation of 500 persons. Divided into two themed tours, participants are taken to either Macau peninsula or Cotai. Those joining the “Macau tour” will be able to appreciate the cylindrical MGM Aquarium at the Grande Praça and interact with the aquarist of MGM MACAU, while participants of the “Cotai tour” will enjoy the Sea Odyssey show at MGM COTAI. The group tours will also visit city’s other tourist attractions, aiming to create memorable moments for patients and their caregivers.
At the same time, MGM sponsors Kiang Wu Nursing College of Macau to compile a guidebook on the topic of reducing the risk of dementia, and target to distribute 3,000 copies to different sectors in the community by the second quarter of 2022.
(Photo: During the launch ceremony, elderly and MGM volunteers presented a performance together to further promote inclusion.)
Follow
