Established in September last year, the Activity Centre for Older Persons or Pusat Aktiviti Warga Emas at UTC Perak was given its due recognition at the recent National Older Persons Day. It is the most active among the 50 such centres in the country. In just one year, it has registered a total of 1600 members and 18,000 visits.
A strategic cooperation between the Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development, governmental agencies and NGOs, the centre reaches out to the able-bodied elderly through social-support programmes, stimulating activities and providing a place for the oldies to interact thus preventing them from feeling bored and lonely.
“I do aerobics on weekdays, tai chi on Saturdays and exercise on the treadmill on Sundays. It’s up to us to join whichever activities we like. I enjoy the unity among the multi-ethnic seniors here and have made a lot of new friends,” Vweriah, 69, told Ipoh Echo.
The fun-filled activities, both indoor and outdoor, include aero-dance, singing, handicraft-making, plays, tai chi, educational trips, counselling and talks on current issues such as GST and social media.
Dato’ Sri Rohani Abdul Karim, the Minister of Women, Families and Communities Development visited the centre on Wednesday, October 28. According to her, there are plans to set up a total of 222 centres nation-wide, one for each parliamentary constituency.
“I am moved by the effort of our oldest member, a 92-year-old lady who takes the bus to the centre every day,” said Dato’ Tan Lian Hoe, the UTC Perak centre chairperson in her speech. She added that some were sent there by their children on their way to work.
The UTC Perak Activity Centre opens daily from 8am to 10pm except on public holidays. Interested readers can call 05 241 3440 / 41 or go to the centre at Lot LB 24 – 27 (UTC 30), Off Jalan Dato’ Onn Jaafar, 30300 Ipoh for details and to register. There is no registration fee.
The other centre in the state is at Tanjung Malim.
Mei Kuan
