City's friendly communities trial expanded

Fifty residential communities have been added to the city's trial of friendly communities for senior citizens with cognitive disorders, Shanghai's civil affairs authorities announced on Tuesday. 

Dapuqiao Subdistrict in Huangpu District, Zhijiang Rd W. Subdistrict in Jing’an District, Sanlin Town in the Pudong New Area, Xietu Road Subdistrict in Xuhui District, and Tianshan Road Subdistrict in Changning District are among the second batch of friendly communities in the trial, according to the Shanghai Civil Affairs Bureau. 

The trial of the first batch in 28 subdistricts and towns began a year ago.

Via risk evaluation, early intervention, education, family support and platform establishment, they have achieved good results, the bureau said. 

Among them, 27 subdistricts and towns had conducted screening on the risk of cognitive disorders on more than 58,000 people by the end of September, exceeding the target, the bureau said. 

The trial will last three years for each batch of friendly communities, according to the bureau. 

The subdistricts and towns have introduced non-medical interventions such as brain activation activities, music and art therapies based on the cognitive disorder level and habits of senior citizens.

Training in memory, language, logic, sensation and perception, and limb control can delay the worsening of the condition, promote seniors' social intercourse and keep them healthy psychologically, the bureau said.

Social organizations have provided support for families with seniors suffering from dementia by conducting training and offering psychological relief at these subdistricts and towns, the bureau said. 

Shanghai residents over the age of 60 comprise more than 35 percent of the permanent population. It is estimated that about 300,000 people in the city suffer from dementia and the figure is rising.

A friendly environment is among the evaluation criteria with science popularization conducted among the public to help them establish friendly attitudes toward these senior citizens because many elderly people with dementia and their families have a sense of shame due to misunderstandings and prejudice, the bureau said.