January 30-February 5, 2012
Headline News
Mackay Hospital Day Care Center for Seniors takes elderly out on shopping excursion prior to Lunar New Year
Reported by Lin Yi-ying
Written by Lydia Ma
Though medical mission is a well-known ministry at Mackay Memorial Hospital (MMH), few people know that this Presbyterian hospital also ministers to marginalized groups in society through organizations such as Tatung District Senior Day Care Center, a city-owned social service organization run by MMH.
To give elderly people an opportunity to interact with the rest of society, 15 volunteers from Tatung Center took 12 seniors to Dihua Street, a place in Taipei City known for selling large selections of Lunar New Year supplies, a few days before Lunar New Year. As result, these seniors enjoyed a rare opportunity to shop for New Year supplies, sample food from food stands, and have fun.
According to the event coordinator, Lin Yu-fang, these seniors presently live with their families. Their sons and daughters drive them to the center in the mornings before heading off to work and pick them up in the late afternoons on their way home from work. The center usually offers various classes and group activities during the day to keep seniors busy and motivated.
It is no small feat to take these seniors out to Dihua Street to shop. Not only does each senior need an accompanying volunteer to help them along as they walk, volunteers must also carry tissue papers, canteens, adult diapers, first-aid kits, and cookies or candies in case of accidents, falls, or low blood sugar levels. But in the end, the trip was a success and seniors enjoyed the opportunity to sample sweet soup, tofu pudding, and other goodies sold on Dihua Street.
According to one of Tatung Center’s supervisors, Hong Chia-en, MMH began operating this center in 1998. There are currently 35 seniors registered at the center and they are divided into 3 smaller groups with 1 assistant leading each group in daily activities such as morning exercise, chess games, knitting, drawing, and crafts.
In addition to these classes, a family doctor from MMH visits Tatung Center at least twice a month to offer free medical check-ups. The center also schedules at least one outdoor activity per month to keep seniors physically active and boost their physical health.
