It’s magic: How an elderly Hong Kong resident is filling his every moment to keep Alzheimer’s at bay
William Lau does community service, balloon twisting, magic, hiking and swimming – and has now been nominated for a Spirit of Hong Kong award
Retiree William Lau Chi-keung keeps himself busy in a multitude of fun ways.
It’s all noted in his diary, which is almost always full: Monday, community service awards; Tuesday, Shatin balloon twisting; Wednesday, Caritas elderly centre committee meeting; Thursday, PHAB Association event; Friday, make 55 balloon flowers and two Roman columns for Caritas; Saturday, magic show in Sham Shui Po; Sunday, hiking. Outside the calendar borders, “write article” is scribbled.
Lau is an organised man, but it’s not just a preference – it’s a necessity. He was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease about 10 years ago and has been fighting his fading memory to maintain a functional, full life.
He had retired to Vancouver, when one day he couldn’t remember where he’d parked his car. It went downhill from there. “If you can’t drive, you have no life there,” he says, explaining his decision to move back to Hong Kong. “I grew up here, so the streets are etched deep in my brain. And public transport is so great, I don’t need to drive.”
