Nestlé Hong Kong Partners Again with St. James' Settlement to Raise Seniors’ Awareness of Bone Health Free Fall Prevention, Balanced Nutrition, Bone and Joint Health Programmes for 500 Elderly Participants

Hong Kong faces a serious challenge regarding its ageing population. According to projections by the Census and Statistics Department, the population aged 65 or above will account for approximately 36% of the total population by 2046 or one in every three Hong Kong residents. As people age, issues such as osteoporosis, joint degeneration, and the loss of muscle strength become increasingly common, affecting the mobility and quality of life of the elderly. “Fall prevention” is a particularly critical health issue for this demographic. According to the Department of Health, approximately three-quarters of injuries sustained by individuals aged 65 or above are related to falls. Educating seniors on balanced nutrition and appropriate exercise to reduce the risk of falls by maintaining bone and muscle health is of vital importance.

In light of this, Nestlé Hong Kong has partnered with St. James' Settlement again to launch the healthy ageing programme for the second year. Titled "Steady Steps, Balanced Nutrition", the programme will offer free activities on fall prevention, balanced nutrition, and bone & joint health to a total of 500 elderly participants. Through nutritional talks and fall-prevention exercise classes, participants will learn about healthy lifestyle habits, gaining awareness of bone and joint health.

Combining Nutrition and Exercise for Better Senior Health

The "Steady Steps, Balanced Nutrition" Programme (the Programme) runs from early August to December of this year at four elderly centres under St. James' Settlement in the Central and Western District, Wan Chai, Sham Shui Po, and Tsuen Wan. Programme activities include:

• Bone Health and Nutrition Talks: Nutritionist shares practical knowledge—such as balanced diets, nutrient intake, and how to read nutrition labels—to empower the elderly to better manage their own health.
• Fall-Prevention Exercise Classes: Led by certified fitness instructor, the classes use aids like resistance bands and massage balls to train lower-limb strength, balance, and coordination. Participants will learn to develop a regular exercise routine.

Targeting 500 seniors, the Programme seeks to foster greater awareness of balanced nutrition and musculoskeletal health while encouraging them to pay attention to their overall well-being.

Embarking a Healthy and Active Life

Participants remarked that the Programme helped clarify misconceptions about diet and exercise, giving them greater confidence to engage in suitable physical activities and maintain a proper diet. Mrs. Ng, who joined the Programme at the Wanchai District Elderly Community Centre, said that fitness instructors helped her understand that maintaining a safe, consistent exercise routine could improve bone strength and overall health. Expressing appreciation for the activities made available to the community, she said, "The programme gave me the opportunity to learn practical information about bone and joint health as well as fall prevention, which is very helpful for my daily life." Another participant, Ms. Lam, described the activities as highly practical, "Through the nutrition talks and fall-prevention exercise training, I learned how to care for my body with a balanced diet and appropriate exercise, and I feel more prepared to establish healthy lifestyle habits," she said.

Fostering Healthy Ageing and Creating Shared Social Value Through Business-Community Collaboration

Mr. Simon Cheung, Managing Director of Nestlé Hong Kong, said: "As a global leader championing nutrition, health, and wellness, Nestlé is committed to leveraging its core expertise to meet the nutritional needs of consumers at every stage of life. We firmly believe that, beyond generating business value, companies should embrace the philosophy of 'Creating Shared Value' (CSV) to deliver long-term, positive impacts on the community. Following the joint launch of the elderly nutrition and health project last year, we are delighted to partner again with St. James' Settlement to introduce the "Steady Steps, Balanced Nutrition" Programme. By combining nutritional education with the promotion of healthy living, we aim to support local elderly to better manage their health and enhance their quality of life. We hope that through the collaboration, we can foster healthy ageing and work hand-in-hand with the community to build a healthier, more vibrant future."

Ms. Connie Ng, Deputy Chief Executive Officer of St. James' Settlement, stated: "With the ageing population, the demand for health support and preventive education for older adults continues to grow. We are grateful to Nestlé Hong Kong Limited for its continued support of our Continuing Care services. Through the ‘Steady Steps, Balanced Nutrition’ Programme, which includes nutrition talks and fall-prevention exercise classes, we aim to enhance participants' understanding of bone and joint health and fall prevention, while encouraging them to establish healthy lifestyle habits early on. St. James' Settlement has always been committed to enhancing health awareness among the elderly. We will continue to collaborate with partners across different sectors to ensure more elderly people have access to reliable information on nutrition and exercise, helping them lead healthy, active and fulfilling lives.”

Community Seniors Are Invited to Participate

To enable more seniors in the community to benefit from the Programme, participation is open not only to members of the four centres operated by St. James’ Settlement, but also to members of the public aged 55 or above who are interested in learning about bone and joint health, and fall-prevention exercises. The activities are offered free of charge. For programme details and registration information, please contact the person in charge at the respective centres listed below:

Photo Captions:

Photo 1: The programme includes a talk on nutrition for bone health, featuring a nutritionist sharing information on a balanced diet.

Photo 2: A fall-prevention exercise class under the Programme, during which a fitness instructor guides seniors in lower-body strength training.