Yesterday(December 05), Guangzhou officially launched a hotline for the elderly. The hotline number is 96909. With this hotline, the elderly can phone to discuss problems they are facing, which mainly related to mental health and family issues. Volunteers will answer phone calls and provide relevant suggestions.

This is China's first hotline that offers psychological consulting service for the elderly. The hotline will open every Friday starting at 2p.m. till 5p.m. after its official launch. The 60 volunteers possess psychology and sociology know-how. The volunteers then
underwent professional training to prepare for answering the hotline.

Currently there is an elderly population of approximately 940,000 in Guangzhou, accounting for nearly 13% of Guangzhou's total population. The elderly have to face various problems emerging during the aging process, psychological health in particular. Many of the elderly suffer from insomnia, nightmares and heart disease.

Editor: Wing