Community care: Secretary for Labour & Welfare Matthew Cheung and Elderly Commission Chairman Dr Leong Che-hung officiate at the Pilot Neighbourhood Active Ageing Project launching ceremony.

The two-year Pilot Neighbourhood Active Ageing Project has been launched in 15 areas, to promote the concept to 25,000 seniors and boost local support.

Speaking at the launch today, Secretary for Labour & Welfare Matthew Cheung said it seeks to establish a support network in a neighbourhood setting with the seniors playing a leading role. It will involve groups and individuals who are interested in serving the community to spread the message of active ageing.

"Often, our neighbours can offer timely help when we are in need while distant relatives may not be able to offer immediate assistance," he added.

Mr Cheung said the project encourages people of different age groups to serve as volunteers to care for the elderly. They can help seniors stay in touch with society and foster intergenerational harmony, while the elderly can contribute as volunteers, a new force in the community, and lead a flourishing life.

Elderly Commission Chairman Dr Leong Che-hung said the launch demonstrated the spirit of cross-sectoral collaboration and intergenerational harmony.

Non-governmental bodies will partner with residents' organisations, seniors academies, religious groups, schools or the commercial sector to train volunteers to organise activities regularly for the elderly and pay visits to single seniors to bolster neighbourhood support.

They can also help identify seniors who are overlooked or those in need for non-governmental bodies to follow up with district centres that can help them.