The Healthy Macau Association (澳門健康協會) hosted a lunch banquet yesterday aiming to talk about the benefits of exercise for preventing dementia and maintaining hearing health, according to a statement released during the banquet.
The banquet was held at Plaza Restaurant in Zape.
The association’s president, Kong Wai Sam, acknowledged in a speech the usefulness of the government’s services for the elderly but also made a new proposal.
Kong urged the government to plan and set up a centralised dementia support centre. She suggested that the centre integrate professional teams and AI technology to provide 24/7 care support and family training, aiming to alleviate caregiving pressure, strengthen the city’s social service network, and help build Macau into a more dementia-friendly city.
The statement pointed out that as the local population’s ageing process has accelerated, dementia has become a public issue that cannot be overlooked. According to 2021 statistics from the Health Bureau (SSM), the statement said, there were over 6,000 dementia patients in Macau at that time, or nearly 0.9 percent of the population, with an annual increase of around 1,000 individuals.
According to the statement, as the elderly population continues to grow, the number of patients is projected to rise significantly in the next decade. Currently, the Dementia Medical Centre at the public Conde de São Januário Hospital Centre provides cognitive function assessments for nearly 2,000 senior citizens annually, with a waiting time of about four weeks for an appointment.
The statement said the government plans to increase the number of elderly day-care service facilities to 10, expanding Macau’s total service capacity to approximately 550 spots. Although the community support network is gradually improving, it still struggles to meet the continuously growing demand, the statement said.
Both lawmaker Leong Sun Iok and TVB actor Jack Hui Ka Kit, a special guest at the function, emphasised in their session on the stage the significant benefits of physical activity for mental and physical health. Drawing from personal experience, Leong said that daily jogging not only helps manage chronic conditions like hepatitis and hyperlipidaemia* but also maintains energy levels for work.
Hui underlined that jogging is suitable for all age groups, as it strengthens cardiorespiratory fitness, promotes social interaction, and reduces stress. Both pointed out that regular exercise helps enhance quality of life and interpersonal connections, encouraging the public to cultivate a habit of staying active.
* Hyperlipidaemia is a medical term for high levels of lipids (fats) in the blood. These lipids include cholesterol and triglycerides. They are essential for building cells and producing energy, but when levels become too high, they can lead to serious health problems, primarily by clogging arteries. – DeepSeek
Healthy Macau Association Chairman Johnny Au Ka Fai (third from left), lawmaker-cum-accountant Vong Hou Piu (third from right), TVB actor Jack Hui Ka Kit (second from left), lawmaker-cum-labour unionist Leong Sun Iok (second from right), WIDEX HONG KONG HEARING & SPEECH CENTRE LTD. General Manager Tam Wing Sze (left) and the association’s president, Kong Wai Sam, pose during yesterday’s lunch banquet on stage at Plaza Restaurant in Zape. – Photo: Armindo Neves
