Assisting seniors through communal meal program

Encouraging senior citizens to get out of the house and gather for a communal meal where they can chat, laugh, and meet new friends has been a policy promoted by the government in recent years. Currently, however, there is a shortage of venues in which seniors can share a meal together, and many places are without cooking facilities, forcing villages to send out for bento boxes. This not only fails to achieve the government’s aim of getting elderly residents out of the home and integrating them into the community but is possibly also a health risk due to the lack of nutritional value in such meals.

In addition to laying on communal meals for senior citizens, Zhengde Village also organizes morning walks and various classes each week, bringing residents together and ensuring senior citizens have learning opportunities throughout their golden years. Communal meals and community activities not only provide valuable opportunities for senior citizens to have regular human contact but also build friendships between locals and help to maintain a warm and friendly community atmosphere.

以下為中文對照

老人家們有說有笑地聚在一起共餐，為了鼓勵老人家走入人群，老人共餐是各地方政府近年力推的政策之一。目前在推動老人共餐的地區，因找不到共餐場所，也沒有能烹飪的地方，所以只好發便當給長者，但這樣不僅無法達成讓長者走出家門，融入社區的目的，缺乏營養價值的外食，可能也會造成高齡者的健康風險。

除了老人共餐，正德里服務站也定時每個星期舉辦晨運以及開班授課，為銀髮族開辦專屬的大學，除了能夠凝聚正德里的居民以外，也激發長者對學習的樂趣，提供他們一個活到老，學到老的機會。老人共餐以及社區活動讓銀髮族有更多的機會與人群接觸，不僅增加鄰里之間的情誼，守望相助的精神也為社區增添了不少溫馨的氣氛。

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