To mark the H.K.S.K.H. Good Shepherd Home for the Elderly’s 30th anniversary, a thanksgiving luncheon with 17 tables was held on 14th October, 2017. Around 170 guests, residents and their family members, volunteers and staff gathered to witness the joyful moments.
The event opened with a lion dance put on by students of the S.K.H. Kei Lok Primary School while a short video capturing the home’s 30 years of service was screened. Officiating guests including Ms Ip Siu Ming, District Social Welfare Officer (Kwun Tong), Mr Lo Kin-ming, Executive Committee Member of the Welfare Council, and Dr Jane Lee, Director of the Welfare Council, hosted the kick-off ritual for the ceremony, symbolizing the centre’s promise to continue to provide services for the centre’s members, and to leave a lasting impression in the hearts of its members and staff.
In her speech, Ms Ip Siu Ming reviewed the development of elderly services in Hong Kong and applauded the Welfare Council for providing quality residential care services to facilitate senior citizens in leading a respectful life. She also hoped staff of the Good Shepherd Home for the Elderly could cooperate in joint efforts to cope with new challenges and provide quality services in line with the policy on elderly care services.
Mr Lo Kin-ming addressed to the attendees that the Good Shepherd Home for the Elderly offered self-catering bed spaces and bed spaces with meals from the time the home was established. But since its change in the service model, the home has also been offering long-term care services to the frail elders. Based on the Hong Kong Sheng Kung Hui’s parish structure, the home co-organised various spiritual care activities with the H.K.S.K.H. Barnaba’s Church in Kwun Tong, schools and social service units in the neighbourhood so as to reinforce the collaboration between the Hong Kong Sheng Kung Hui’s churches, schools and social service organisations.
The home always puts great emphasis on developing residents’ abilities so as to boost their self-confidence and positive energy. At the ceremony, a dozen senior members aged 80 or above took the stage to treat guests to the vibrant fan dance, drumming performance and chair dance, winning loud applause from the audiences. The master of ceremonies also encouraged attendees to join in the fun.
The event concluded with the home’s staff and guests sharing the stage as they sang the centre’s 30th anniversary song to celebrate the unity of its staff in expressing love through their work.