“This meal service point opened just in time! I can go downstairs and enjoy a hot meal!” On the afternoon of May 12, the aroma of food wafted through the Huapan Jiayuan West Community in the Jinfeng District of Yinchuan City. 68-year-old Zhang Wenying beamed with joy as she held steaming dishes, saying, “The senior meal includes three dishes and a soup for only 10 yuan. The taste is great and it’s affordable; the community really addresses our needs!”
The small meal service point carries significant implications for people’s livelihoods. In response to the high number of elderly residents over 60 and the concentration of solitary seniors in the area, the Huapan Jiayuan West Community has launched a “space-embedded” service model. By collaborating across communities, they have integrated the mature operational system of the Huapan Jiayuan East Community cafeteria into the idle space of the West District, creating an “embedded” meal service point that revitalizes resources while meeting the needs of the residents.
Residents selecting dishes at the meal service point.Considering the dietary preferences of the elderly in the area, the meal service point has specially adjusted its menu. “Today we have big plate chicken, braised winter melon, stir-fried garlic shoots with meat, and stir-fried cabbage. We provide three types of meal sets daily, balancing meat and vegetables, with appropriate softness, and we can customize low-sugar and low-salt meals based on the needs of the elderly,” said the person in charge of the meal service point while showcasing the day’s menu. During the trial operation period, the meal service point also introduced a “tasting price.”
Residents selecting dishes at the meal service point.
“I used to eat casually at home alone, but now with the meal service point, my quality of life has improved!” said resident Chen Bangyun, who lives alone after retirement. He gave a thumbs up, stating, “Community staff have visited multiple times to gather opinions, even asking for our thoughts on the location and menu of the meal service point, truly embodying the principle of ‘the people’s call is my command.’”
According to statistics, on the first day of trial operation, the Huapan Jiayuan West meal service point served over 60 elderly individuals. The community also plans to launch a “meal delivery service” to provide convenience for elderly residents with mobility issues, and plans to establish a “neighborhood dining table” to encourage residents to socialize over meals, creating a warm community-based elderly care model.
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Source: Ningxia Daily
Text and Image Editor | Wang Tong
Text and Image Proofreader | Shi Jingrui
Text and Image Reviewer | Ma Hailun
