Double Ninth Day Concert for Senior Citizens
A series of activities organized by the Department of Social Welfare (DSW) to celebrate Double Ninth Day (also known as Chung Yang Festival) kicked off with a classical songs concert for senior citizens on October 20.
Mayor Hau Lung-bin welcomed the elders to the concert and wished them a happy Double Ninth Day. He promised that the city government will take care of the aged population in Taipei and look after their well-being. The concert attracted over 800 senior citizens.
According to the mayor, improving the welfare for senior citizens is investing in our own future. Taipei’s community is slowly becoming an aging society, with senior citizens accounting for 13 percent of the total population. In other words, one out of eight resident is 65 or older.
Serving senior citizens is one of the main responsibilities of DSW. As of today, there are 140 activity centers for senior citizens and seven long-term care centers in Taipei. He hopes that there will be a care center for each of the 12 administrative district in the future, allowing senior citizens to receive quality care without having to travel far from their neighborhoods.
Many well-known older generation singers appeared on stage, including Wang Ching-fong, Johnny Ying, Liu Fu-juh, and Wu Hsiu-chu. The mayor also took the opportunity to present certificates of gratitude to a number of charity organizations for providing gifts and volunteers for the activity.