Activity Centers Bring Awareness to Caring for Senior Citizens' Mental Health

TaiwanPlus News

Adults over 65 in Taiwan have had the highest death rate from suicide for decades. And while other countries have seen a similar trend, the problem is more acute – and growing – in Taiwan as the country ages. With a fifth of the population expected to be 65 or older as of this year, what's being done to solve the mental health problems of seniors?

Transcript

00:00It's a lively day at this activity center for senior citizens in Taipei.

00:05This morning's class is about edible art,

00:08with the seniors making pictures out of orange slices and nuts.

00:12Every day brings something different.

00:14Drawing, singing, physical activities,

00:16even classes teaching those who never went to school to read and write.

00:21The Hongdao Senior Citizens Welfare Foundation

00:23runs several centers like this across Taiwan.

00:26They're open Monday to Friday to anyone 65 and up who doesn't need too much extra care

00:31for a monthly fee of around 30 U.S. dollars.

00:34That includes a group lunch every day.

00:37The goal is to keep seniors active,

00:39and crucially, in good spirits at a time of life when emotions can get dark.

00:44The 65-plus cohort in Taiwan has had the highest death rate from suicide each year since at least 1994.

00:51Studies show Taiwan's far from the only place where suicide among seniors is a problem.

00:57But for rapidly aging Taiwan, it is an exceptional problem.

01:01This year, the 65-plus age group is set to make up a full fifth of the population.

01:06As one of the foundation's Taipei team leaders, Zhan Chan-Zheng explains,

01:10depression is an issue for this age group,

01:13and getting help isn't always something people of that generation think to do.

01:17There are probably 60 and 60-60 adults in a matter of course

01:23in those who have experienced anxiety in our situation.

01:26But I think that they're more than 60-60,

01:28because they're more than 80-60 years and 50-60 years of women.

01:30They're more than 80-60,

01:33and I think that's the main reason for it to be겠습니다.

01:36I think this is also about the culture of Taiwan, the culture and the background.

01:40They don't think that the mental health or the social media needs to be respected.

01:47Though he does say when they bring up the idea of getting help in the center's classes,

01:51there is a positive response.

01:53As he sees it, the decline that comes with aging, loneliness,

01:57and a lack of purpose after retirement

01:59are three of the big risk factors for poor mental health.

02:02And that's where these centers come in.

02:05They provide stimulation, social time, and something to look forward to.

02:09Most of the senior citizens come every day, sometimes for years now.

02:13They say they're happy.

02:15And having a space like this one is a big reason why.

02:19In the past, one of the people in the home,

02:22I feel like I have no idea what to do.

02:25I don't know what to do.

02:27After I come here, I feel like I have a lot of joy.

02:32Before I come here, I feel like I have a lot of friends here.

02:38I feel like I'm happy.

02:40The people who can come to centers like these are the lucky ones, though.

02:44Many in this age group can't leave the house anymore.

02:47And the decline people experience once they're housebound is noticeable.

02:51I feel like I have to do my life.

02:52I'm happy to be here, but I feel like I can come here.

03:01And I feel like I'm happy.

03:03I feel like I am happy.

03:04I feel like I am happy with my parents.

03:06because they couldn't go to work with them.

03:08My parents were very upset when they were talking to us,

03:13and they were very upset.

03:15It's much the same story in rural parts of Taiwan,

03:18where these kinds of centers are hard to come by.

03:21With their limited reach and resources,

03:23private groups like the Hongdao Foundation can only do so much.

03:27So how is the government handling this growing public health problem?

03:31Health Ministry officials were unable to speak with Taiwan Plus directly,

03:35but did give their eight-point mental health strategy for seniors.

03:39The points include extra screening that got more than 4,000 people

03:42referred to help in the first half of this year.

03:45There's training for those who work with seniors

03:47to seek out signs of suicidal thoughts and report them.

03:50And crucially, there's a sort of suicide watch list.

03:54People over 65 who've reported a suicide attempt get classed as high risk,

03:59and for those with more than one attempt,

04:01home visits are more frequent and longer.

04:04But some groups that work with senior citizens see gaps,

04:07and ways the government can improve.

04:09Back at the Hongdao Foundation's activity center,

04:12some of the seniors say,

04:13mental health is critical as people get older.

04:17as people get older.

04:18As people get older.

04:19As people get older.

04:20As people get older.

04:21As people get older.

04:22As people get older.

04:23As people get older.

04:24As people get older.

04:25As people get older.

04:26As people get older.

04:27As people get older.

04:28As people get older.

04:29As people get older.

04:30As people get older.

04:31As people get older.

04:32As people get older.

04:34As people get older.

04:35As people get older.

04:36As people get older.

04:38the seniors say, mental health is critical as people get older.

04:54How best to spread that happiness among seniors, though, is a matter that attracts many viewpoints.

05:00And with Taiwan society rapidly aging, the issue is only going to get more pressing.

05:05Chris Ma and John Van Trieste for Taiwan Plus.

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