Investing in a specialised system of assisted meals for the elderly

A few days ago, the media reported a warm scene in the left bank community of Jinghu District, the elderly meals: outdoor freezing cold, indoor warmth. Many elderly people sat around the meal, rich dishes coupled with a warm atmosphere, a harmonious and beautiful picture jumped out.

The above is just a snapshot of the many senior assisted living sites in our city. In recent years, the city started from solving the most concerned and urgent problems of the elderly, and constantly deepened the construction of the elderly service system, to create a diversified model of assisted feeding service, and carried out many useful explorations on the elderly assisted feeding service, which was unanimously praised by the public. However, with the gradual increase in the demand for high-quality and diversified meals by elderly persons living alone, widows and orphans, the elderly and the disabled, the meal assistance service for the elderly is still faced with such problems as uneven regional locations and a less pronounced radiation effect in its actual operation.

To this end, the author suggests that firstly, the layout of assisted living places for the elderly should be optimised. It is necessary to further map out the demand for assisted meals for the elderly in the district, as well as the specific number of elderly service agencies (centres) willing to provide assisted meals for the elderly. On this basis, a balanced and accessible system of assisted feeding services for the elderly is gradually being built, relying on existing facilities such as nursing institutions and elderly service centres. Secondly, a long-term publicity mechanism should be established. To step up publicity on the work of assisted feeding for the elderly and to raise the public awareness rate, especially the public welfare orientation of assisted feeding services for the elderly.Through the online service platform and offline visits by community workers, timely and accurate guidance and services are provided to the elderly and their families in the community. Thirdly, improve the implementation of supportive policies. Implementing preferential policies on water, electricity, gas and tax exemptions and reductions for meal service establishments, promoting the healthy development of meal service, and focusing on the implementation of policies on subsidies for meal service for the severely disabled, those who live alone, those who have no children, those who are elderly and those who are in financial difficulty in their own jurisdictions.

In addition, the participation of social forces should be actively mobilised and supported. Because of the increase in prices and labour costs, as well as the fact that meal assistance services must meet the requirements of proximity, convenience, universality, nutrition and safety, cooperation with brand-name catering companies and fast-food chains should be strengthened, and locally renowned catering companies should be introduced to join the ranks of the elderly in meal assistance services in order to provide the elderly with better-quality assisted feeding services.

As a practical project of the Government for the people, the elderly meal service has been gradually transformed from a "key small matter" to a "major livelihood issue" closely related to thousands of households.Relevant departments should strengthen planning and design, actively explore new modes, focus on creating a specialised meal service system, and strive to build a comprehensive network of elderly meal service covering urban and rural areas, with a balanced layout, convenient and accessible, and with the participation of a diverse range of main bodies, so that the needs of the elderly for meal service can be effectively met.

Translated by Xu Mingxi from FESCO Foreign Affairs Service Center of Anhui Province