Today marks the International Day of Older Persons, a global observance held every year on 1st October since it was established by the United Nations in 1990.
The day celebrates the contributions of older adults and addresses the challenges of a rapidly aging population.
The UK theme for this year is “What’s on your doorstep?”
This theme calls upon us to celebrate the people, places and services that help older people to stay active and connected in our community, whilst shining a light on the barriers that can make them harder to access.
To mark this year’s International Day of Older Persons, we will be bringing together Pine Court residents for a warm, accessible and enjoyable community event that recognises older people, encourages connection and showcases local support and opportunities.
Liverpool is home to one of the oldest Chinese communities in Europe, and Pine Court has a significant number of Chinese residents, who have rich personal histories and experiences to share. By inviting residents to share their stories, we can recognise the strength, resilience and contribution of the Chinese community while also understanding what helps people feel included, valued and connected in later life.
We caught up with one resident, Tieu Binh Tien, who shared her story of coming to the UK in 1986 as a consequence of the Vietnam War, travelling via Hong Kong to eventually arrive in Birkenhead at the age of 30. Tieu Binh noted how quiet Birkenhead seemed after the experience of war, and how the local Chinese, Vietnamese and Indian communities worked together to create what eventually became the Wirral Multicultural Centre, providing support for both diaspora and British-born communities in the area.
In 1993, Tieu Binh came to live within the Pine Court community, attracted by the quality of the properties available and the caring nature and customer-focused approach of the Pine Court team. She has made a life for herself within Pine Court, and now enjoys working with a local Chinese cultural dance group (as seen in the photograph), keeping her active and connected with the wider Chinese community.
Shared stories such as Tieu Binh’s demonstrate the strength, resilience and contribution of members of Pine Court’s community to a richer lived experience for all as we celebrate this year’s International Day of Older Persons.