Impact Stories

Ms Chan, who is nearly 70 and suffers from lumbar spine displacement and hypertension, greatly benefited from activities under the JC eHealth Project’s multi-component intervention programme targeted at elderly people at risk of “sarcopenia”. Thanks to interventions including physical activity, nutrition talks and board games, Ms Chan believes the programme has not only boosted her health literacy but also strengthened her lower limbs and core muscles. Relief from long-term, severe back pain has built her confidence to age healthily in the community. Her classmates have also become trusted companions in her health journey.

Ms Chan, who is approaching 90, has joined the JC eHealth Project for six years and has eventually become a health promotion ambassador. She said that everyone felt healthier after joining the Project and enjoyed social time while learning and exercising together. As a health promotion ambassador, she has shown new members how to measure their blood pressure and other health parameters at the eHealth station. She has gained a lot of satisfaction, especially when her efforts are appreciated by her peers.

Mr Chau, in his 70s, believes that if people don’t exercise at this age, muscle loss can become irreversible, ultimately resulting in a reliance on a walking stick. Motivated by this concern, he participated in the JC eHealth Project’s multi-component intervention programme designed for elderly people at risk of “sarcopenia”, where a fitness coach guided him in core training to improve his stability and prevent falls while walking. Mr Chau encourages other fellow seniors to visit the elderly centre more often, find activities and exercises they enjoy, and take positive steps for their health.

In his 80s with hypertension, Mr Cheng regularly measures his health parameters at the eHealth station and joins emerging sports organised by the centre, such as darts, pain relief fitness classes and Finnish skittles classes. He reported feeling more cheerful, making more friends and becoming physically stronger after joining the JC eHealth Project.

Ms Ng and Ms Tsui regularly measure their blood pressure and work out with digital exercise equipment in a participating elderly centre of the JC eHealth Project. Under a professional coach’s guidance, they train different muscle groups while digital equipment records their individual strength and frequency of exercise. Not only have their posture and strength improved, but Ms Ng and Ms Tsui are now also enthusiastically encouraging other elderly people to monitor their health measurements regularly and adopt a healthy diet and lifestyle.

Tony indicated that the largest impact of the JC eHealth Project on healthy ageing is the shift from passive care to proactive self-health management. The Project not only educates older people on health measurement but also changes their lifestyle. Some of them mistakenly think that their physical condition isn’t good enough for exercise, but this Project aims to change that mindset. As health status or metabolism decline, adopting an active lifestyle and practicing self-management become increasingly important for healthy ageing in the community.

Twiggy viewed that after joining the JC eHealth Project, the centre staff have gained a deeper understanding of how older people pursue health. They have become more confident in adopting different interventions and are informed about members’ health data, enabling them to implement targeted interventions or creative activities that promote healthy ageing.

Van reflected on the five years since the centre joined the JC eHealth Project and observed that the most significant change in elderly participants has been their physical transformation. Centre staff noticed that many seniors had unstable lower limb strength and poor balance during health promotion activities. This Project provides training on sarcopenia, teaching how to strengthen lower limb muscles and alleviate pain, allowing centre staff to help seniors maintain or enhance their physical activity and balance through intervention. They have also received feedback from many seniors who noted that since participating in the Project, their risk of falling has significantly decreased, and their hospital visits have also reduced.

Ivy noted that the centre staff initially thought the elderly's health issues primarily revolved around the three highs (high blood pressure, high blood glucose, and high cholesterol). However, the Well-being survey of the JC eHealth Project revealed that many elderly had poor lower limb strength, with both men and women experiencing incontinence. Additionally, some faced insomnia or unhappiness due to difficulty accepting their gradual decline. These concerns are rarely voiced by the elderly, and it was through the survey that staff gained a deeper understanding of their conditions. As a result, the centre planned health promotion programmes to address the diverse needs of seniors, helping them build confidence and manage their health effectively.