A BETTER relationship with family and friends helps enhance people's ability to handle crises such as the recent Sars epidemic, a recent survey has revealed.
The study was carried out last month by a group of volunteers from the Youth Services Office of St James' Settlement. It covered 49 people from a public housing estate in Causeway Bay and around Tai Hang. The respondents came from all walks of life, including housewives and the elderly who lived alone.
According to one of the researchers, Cinthia Mok Wing-sum, a fifth former, the elderly lacked proper support. 'One old woman I visited was given some anti-Sars materials, but nobody taught her how to use them. Therefore, she left them unopened,' she said.
Besides, the survey showed that housewives were under more pressure than their family members.
Another volunteer, Penny Or yim-ling, a Form Five student, said: 'They had to do extra cleaning work at home (during the Sars outbreak). They also dared not let their children go out for fear of catching the disease.'
Apart from promoting neighbourhood goodwill, the researchers suggested that more support should be provided to the elderly and housewives, so that in case Sars re-appeared in the winter, they would not feel helpless anymore.
