A forum showcasing progress on the government’s creative aging initiative was staged at the National Taiwan Museum of Fine Arts Nov. 23-24 in the central city of Taichung to enhance public awareness of the imminent advent of a super-aged society in Taiwan.
According to the Ministry of Culture, the NTMFA launched the “Wonderful You” project with MOC support earlier this year for senior residents in neighboring townships. Through encouraging the elderly to take part in engaging, educational and entertaining art programs, the initiative aims to enrich lives by reducing loneliness and enhancing social connections.
To share the project’s success, which laid foundations for other similar initiatives, the museum organized the forum and invited experts and academics to discuss key issues stemming from a super-aged society, such as geriatric medicine and elderly-friendly technology applications.
Citing official statistics, the NTMFA said those aged 65 and above will comprise 20 percent of Taiwan’s population beginning next year. To address new challenges and opportunities stemming from this population shift, the forum focused discussions on cultural sustainability and digital engagement; inclusive arts and symbiosis; creative aging and well-being; and art engagement and dementia.
Highlights of the event included the successful experience of regional communities in promoting aging in place, as well as review of the Wonderful You project, which showed a significant positive impact on 113 senior participants in terms of their emotion management, social interaction and active engagement, the museum said. (SFC-E)
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from Taiwan Today – Top News