On the morning of March 8, Hunan University pioneered a caring-for-aged project which aims at providing “Push-to-Talk” mobile phones for retired staff members of the university free of charge. More than thirty retired employees aged over 80 were handed out these mobile phones on the spot.
With such push-to-talk mobile phones the elderly can utilize speed dial facility in case of emergency in just a click. For instance, the user can speedily call emergency centers of the Fourth Hospital of Changsha. The facility timely transfers the phone owner’s information in the serving terminal of the hospital ensuring that the hospital can urgently and accordingly arrange for emergency treatment as soon as possible. Besides, the mobile phone can be used to consult the university hospital and pre-register in the Fourth Hospital of Changsha The simple operation of the phones can not only facilitate the ex-employees by guaranteeing contact with their friends and relatives, but also save the user’s life in emergencies.
This project is in response to the increasing number of ageing population and “empty nester families”. At present, there are more than 2800 retired staff members and about 500 empty-nest families in Hunan University, accounting for over one third of the faculty. Leaders of the university and the Department of Retirees believe great importance must be attached to this issue and active measures ought to be taken to help the retired staff members especially the empty nesters as much as possible.
The first batch of free mobile phones will be given out to 300-plus retired workers. And the university will make further efforts to ensure every retiree has a “Push-to-Talk” mobile phone in the future.
