2021-02-25
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Attending today's donation ceremony, Mayor Lu presented the Lions Club International a certificate of appreciation and did exercise together with grandparents from "Fenyuan Senior Energetic Academy- Energetic and Happy Elder Band" in a relaxed atmosphere. Mayor Lu said the Taichung City Government especially cares for social welfare measures and after she took over the office, she resumed National Health Insurance (NHI) Premium Subsidies for Older People to benefit more than 310,000 seniors. Since this year, elderly people who take a taxi by presenting their senior cards can enjoy the discount of NT$85 up from NT$50 per ride and Taichung also has the highest number of community caring centers, 430. Additionally, Taichung City was ranked number one in two surveys of "Age-Friendly City" and "The Most Livable City for Older People" conducted respectively by "50+" and "Vision Magazine."
"Limited budget with unlimited private partnership!" mentioned by Mayor Lu. There are 29 administrative districts in Taichung City with a population over 2.8 million. The area of Heping District is equivalent to the size of Changhua County. Hence, the Taichung City Government needs to serve many people. Under the leadership of Director, Chuang Chang-Kuang and his staff, today the District 300-C1 of the Lions Club International donated two senior recreational vans to serve the elderly people living in the rural areas. Mayor Lu especially thanked the charity donation made by the Club to deliver love to the seniors during the cold winter time.
Mayor Lu said that the services of the senior recreational vans are not limited by geographical boundaries and serve as mobile caring centers in various districts and communities in Taichung. These vans equipped with LED TVs, karaoke singing machines, DVD players, and sphygmomanometers at touring sites such as parks and squares in front of temples for the provision of free tea, social welfare promotion, health counselling and cultural and recreational services for the older people in communities. They were used to encourage the older people to go out and take part in community activities. Director of District 300-C1 of the Lions Club International, Chuang Chang-Guang, pointed out that his club has been long time organizing charity activities such as disaster relief, blood donation and rehabilitation bus donation. Including the two senior recreational vans donated today, his Club has donated eight vans to care for older people living in the remote areas, encourage them to go out, and maintain physical and psychological health.
The Social Affairs Bureau said that in addition to the highest number of senior recreational vans in Taichung, the City also boasts of the highest number of community caring centers. Recently, Taichung City received the 6th Community Golden Pin Award of Ministry of Health and Welfare and is the only city in Taiwan that has been awarded twice. This year, Taichung planned to increase the number of courses at senior academies from 893 to 1,000 to serve more older people and build itself into an age friendly city. (1/22*6)* The Social Affairs Bureau
Contact person: Division Chief Wu, the Taichung City Social Welfare Bureau
Contact telephone number: 04-22289111 extn. 37441
unit:綜合企劃科
