Disco, dogs help the elderly adjust

The best company: Rally the labrador therapy dog visiting people at an elderly daycare centre in Hong Kong. — AFP

HONG KONG: Eyes closed and hips swaying, retiree Polly Chan danced like no one was watching at a community centre here, where experts warn of a loneliness epidemic among the ballooning elderly population.

The 71-year-old and about 30 others were part of a pilot programme called “Noon-D” (for “afternoon disco”) intended to reach out to an increasingly isolated group in the fast-paced city.