The Eden Social Welfare Foundation has introduced an elder care program across Taiwan. The program offers food deliveries as well as classes on flower-watering, singing, and exercise to help senior citizens stay healthy, both physically and mentally.
The life expectancy of Taiwanese people is, on average, 80.9 years. In five years’ time, the island will become a “super-aging society”, with one in five people aged over 65.
Besides frailty, the thing that worries Taiwan’s senior citizens the most is loneliness and social isolation. Now the Eden Social Welfare Foundation has designed a fun and relaxing program designed to alleviate these worries.
One participant in her 70’s says she enjoys watering flowers and vegetables and doing exercise along with others her age. The woman used to suffer from depression and dementia. But the elder care program offered by the foundation has made her happy again.
Another participant, this one in his 80’s, loves to sing. He says the program teaches him how to do exercise and offers singing classes too. He practices both at home.
The foundation has opened 18 different day care centers for senior citizens around Taiwan.