Providing communal meals to protect the health of elderly villagers

In the village of Lishan, which is located in Hualien’s Zhouxi Township, a partnership has been struck up between Mennonite Christian Hospital and Lishan Community Development Association. The scheme not only delivers communal meals to elderly villagers, but also medical care and other resources, and has grown into a comprehensive local care system for senior citizens. Bringing elderly villagers together for lunch twice a week serves two main purposes; it saves them the trouble of having to make meals; and encourages them to get out of the house, thereby providing more interaction between people in the community. 

Director of Mennonite Christian Hospital elderly care program said that through such informal meetings it is possible to keep track of an elderly person’s health situation, allowing health workers to provide timely care and assess whether any further long-term care services are needed. Women from the community have also been investing their time in the kitchen, cooking up tasty meals with homegrown ingredients that honor local eating habits. The scheme not only ensures that elderly residents have piping hot meals, but also promotes solidarity, care and warmth within the community.  

Providing communal meals to protect the health of elderly villagers 
URL：https://www.peopo.org/news/311591 

(以下是中文對照)

門諾醫院x立山社區 老人共餐服務守護偏鄉長者健康
 

照片

花蓮縣卓溪鄉立山部落的老人共餐服務，是門諾醫院與立山社區發展協會，結合醫療專業與在地資源，所發展出的在地化長照服務模式。老人共餐服務，利用一週兩天與長者固定在據點共用午餐的方式，一方面解決長者用餐的問題，一方面鼓勵還有行動力的老人家走出家門，到據點來運動、吃飯，增加和社區成員的互動。
門諾醫院的長照專員，同時也可以透過出席狀況，掌握老人家的健康情形，適時的關懷與評估是否需要提供更進一步的長照服務。由社區婦女所投入的部落廚房，負責餐點的製作，由在地人所製作的餐食，結合老人家自己提供的食材與當地的飲食習慣，在熱騰騰的餐食當中，更傳遞著在地關懷與互助的溫度。