Meals on wheels deliver warmth to seniors living alone

Population aging is an increasingly serious problem in Taiwan. Many elderly people are not part of a “normal” family setup and don’t receive comprehensive care. For such elderly people living alone, even eating three square meals a day is an issue. Fortunately, there are many groups committed to providing meals-on-wheels services to meet the basic needs of these community elders.

Due to our busy modern lifestyle, many young people don’t have the time to accompany elderly relatives, so communal meals in the community provide seniors with an opportunity to eat and chat with friends.

According to Executive Yuan statistics, the elderly population in Taiwan exceeded 14% in 2018, which meets the World Health Organization's definition of an “aged society,” making long-term care a crucially important issue for the future of Taiwan. Whether it is meals on wheels or communal eating activities, the aim is to provide more companionship and company for the elderly. Hopefully, society will give more care and concern to seniors in the future to ensure they enjoy a higher quality of life in their golden years.

以下為中文對照

台灣高齡化社會的情況越來越嚴重，有許多老人並不像一般的家庭，能夠受到完善的照顧，甚至有許多獨居老人，連飲食都有困難，不過現在有許多團體。致力於送餐服務，讓這些長者能夠解決基本需求。

許多年輕人因為繁忙，常常忘記陪伴身邊的長者，老人共餐活動，讓這些長者也多了一些能夠一起吃飯聊天的朋友。

行政院統計，台灣老年人口在2018年已突破百分之十四，達到高齡社會的標準，長照成為未來最重要的課題，不論是愛心送餐或老人共餐，目的都是給予長者更多的陪伴，也期盼未來社會多付出關懷與照顧，讓長者擁有更完善的老年生活。