我们都听过这句说话 “没有任何地方像家一样”。随着年龄的增长，许多长者希望尽可能留在家中安享晚年。他们生活了长达数十年的家庭和熟悉的社区环境可以让他们更舒适和有尊严地应对晚年的生活挑战。 they age, many seniors want to continue living in their own homes for as long as possible. The familiarity of a household where they have lived for years, or decades and the surrounding community can bring comfort and dignity as they navigate life's challenges in their advanced years. 

然而，随着长者年龄的增长，健康状况和活动能力逐渐下降，留在家中独立生活带来了越来越多的挑战。他们不但在外出购买食物、房屋清洁或洗衣等日常琐事上都需要有人协助，他们还需要情感支持和社会联系，这对于维持健康的生活质量由关重要。 change as people age, the desire to remain at home presents increased challenges. Seniors frequently need help with everyday chores like grocery shopping, house cleaning or laundry. They also need emotional support and social connections essential to maintaining a healthy quality of life.  

佳颐中心于3月份开始的 “好帮手计划” 正是来帮助这群长者。这个为期六个月的试点项目将为大温地区的弱势及低收入长者提供简单的家居清洁和关怀陪伴服务。虽然长者可以使用其他的社区支援服务，但通常这类服务的轮候时间一般都颇长。此外。由于语言和文化障碍，华裔长者和服务员之间也有可能出现沟通不畅因而引起的误解，从而影响所提供服务的质量。有见及此，好帮手计划将提供简单的家居清洁服务和关怀陪伴，同时满足华裔长者独特的语言和文化需求 through the launch of Project Helping Hands. This six-month pilot project will offer light housekeeping services and care companionship to vulnerable, low-income Chinese seniors in the Lower Mainland.  While other community home support programs are available to seniors, there are sometimes long waiting lists for services. Due to language and cultural barriers, miscommunications or misunderstandings can arise between Chinese seniors and housekeepers, undermining the effectiveness of services provided. Project Helping Hands will offer a variety of housekeeping and companionship service options while addressing Chinese seniors' unique linguistic and cultural needs.  

不少华裔长者与社会孤立。他们无法获得他们需要和应得的实际和情感支持，这使他们与社区隔绝，导致抑郁和其他心理问题。导致长者与社会孤立的常见因素包括身体虚弱和行动不便、资金有限以及缺乏支持网络。这些因素往往对少数族裔产生更显著的不利影响，他们通常被视为主流社会的局外人。 access the practical and emotional supports they need and deserve can leave them cut off from the world around them, leading to depression and other psychological problems. The common contributing factors to social isolation among the elderly include physical frailty and mobility challenges, limited finances, and lack of support networks. These factors often have more significant adverse effects on ethnic minorities, often perceived as outsiders in mainstream Society.  

Through the Project Helping Hands pilot, Gaia Cares aims to fill gaps in the community service programs to improve social support for Chinese seniors. The six-month pilot, funding through a generous Gaia Cares donor contribution, will first target low-income seniors 60 years or older in Vancouver's Chinatown district, beginning in March. 

If you are interested in learning more about Project Helping Hands, contact us at 778-223-7236. We welcome donations to support the project. Call us to donate by phone or donate online at https://gccws.ca/donate.