A yellow wristband initiative aims to help the lost elderly return home is sweeping through the country through various social platforms.
The yellow silicone wristband is specially designed for Alzheimer's patients, which contains the basic information of wearers and enables them to contact the family in case they get lost.
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Hu Yumei teaches the elderly how to use the yellow wristband on May 3 in Taiyuan, Shanxi province.[Photo/news.sxrb.com] |
"It's waterproof so you never have to take it off even when you take a bath," explained Hu Limei, while giving a wristband to a senior resident in Taiyuan, North China's Shanxi province, on May 3.
On that day, 3,300 yellow wristbands were given to senior residents in the city's 12 communities in two hours, thanks to Hu's organization.
Hu Limei is a psychological counselor in Taiyuan. She started to promote a micro public welfare initiative that appealed the public to help lost seniors return home in the city in 2013.
In 2013, the elderly father of Hu's good friend went out for a walk before the family realized he was lost. The family tried every possible way to find him but failed. To date, the friend's mother still lays out a bowl and chopsticks for her husband at dinner time, though he has not yet returned.
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A volunteer helps a senior resident put on a wristband in Taiyuan on May 3.[Photo/news.sxrb.com] |
This incident motivated Hu's initiative to help elderly residents who suffer from Alzheimer's disease.
"A yellow wristband can help a lost elderly person return home," Hu said. And she hopes more attention and care would be paid to Alzheimer's patients.
Since the last Double Ninth Festival, a Chinese festival for the elderly, Hu began to present yellow wristbands to seniors for free. To date, this public welfare initiative has given out 8,000 wristbands in Taiyuan.
According to a survey from the Taiyuan public security bureau, it has received 460 alarms related to lost elderly citizens in the first three months.
"When you are aware of seniors wearing wristbands, please keep a close eye on them in case they need help. You can contact their families through the information on the wristband," Hu repeated many times.
Fortunately, Hu's initiative has received assistance from the public. Many residents came to donate money for the activity held on May 3. Hu has spent all the donations on purchasing wristbands and helping more seniors.
Some residents also participated in Hu's activity as volunteers.
On May 3, a mother and her son in grade 6 took part in the activity as volunteers. "An elderly person and a child are equally important to a family. Such an activity is a chance to teach the young to respect and care for the elderly," the mother said.
Hu plans to organize more wristband-giving activities to cover at least 120 communities in Taiyuan.
