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“In the past, I had to make do with meals, but now I can have a hot meal on time every day. The community has truly done a good job for us!” Aunt Ji, a single elderly resident of Longshan Community in Anwen Street, smiles as she holds the nutritious lunch delivered by the home care center.
This warm scene vividly reflects the Longshan Community’s deep commitment to embedded services and its efforts to solve livelihood issues. Today, from the elderly’s “hot meals” to children’s “care challenges,” from neighbors’ “urgent needs” to the “mutual assistance” of volunteer services, the community has woven a happiness network that covers all demographics, allowing residents to enjoy convenience and warmth right at their doorstep.
Senior Care: Meal Delivery Mediation, Care Delivered to the Bedside
Focusing on the “pain points” of elderly home care, Longshan Community has launched a “service combination punch.”
On one hand, relying on the “Old Chen Studio,” a dual mechanism of “office hours + home visits” has been established. Retired cadres and community leaders from the studio meet residents daily to listen to their needs and mediate conflicts. Whether it’s a small inquiry about water and electricity repairs or resolving neighborhood disputes, timely responses are provided here.
On the other hand, members of the studio, community grid workers, and volunteers from co-construction units form four small teams that regularly visit single, empty-nest elderly individuals and disabled families. They not only help check the safety of gas and electrical systems at home but also chat with the elderly to alleviate their loneliness, delivering care right to their bedside.
Meanwhile, the home care center’s meal delivery service has effectively addressed the “meal difficulties” faced by elderly individuals with mobility issues. Staff customize nutritious menus based on the dietary needs of the elderly and deliver hot meals daily. To date, over 5,000 meals have been delivered, allowing the elderly to feel the warmth of home through satisfying their taste buds.
Motivated by Purpose: Time Bank, Activating Mutual Circulation
The “mutual circulation” of volunteer services keeps the community vibrant.
Longshan Community has innovatively implemented a “time bank” mechanism. After participating in services such as assisting the elderly, environmental cleanup, policy promotion, and skills training, volunteers can “deposit” their service hours into the time bank. When they or their family members need assistance in the future, they can “withdraw” corresponding service hours.
This mechanism not only stimulates residents’ enthusiasm for volunteer service but also fosters a positive atmosphere of “I serve everyone, and everyone serves me.” So far, the community’s “time bank” has attracted over 100 volunteers, accumulating more than 2,000 hours of stored service, becoming a “warm engine” for community governance.
Child Development: Community Care, Creating a “Happy Base Camp”
The “care challenges” faced by children have also been effectively addressed through the community’s embedded services.
To tackle the issue of parents struggling to find care during winter and summer vacations and weekends, Longshan Community has partnered with the county’s Youth League Committee to create a “Youth Palace at the Doorstep,” inviting retired teachers and college student volunteers to serve as counselors. They offer tutoring, craft creation, and science experiments, providing children with a safe activity space and enriching their extracurricular lives.
“In the past, I had to take leave to take care of my child during winter and summer vacations, but now I can send my child to the community’s Youth Palace. Not only is there supervision, but they also learn something, which makes me feel more at ease at work!” Ms. Wang, a community resident, expresses the sentiments of many parents. To date, the “Youth Palace at the Doorstep” has served over 500 youth, becoming a “happy base camp” for children.
From the elderly and children to all community residents, from daily needs to urgent concerns, Longshan Community in Anwen Street uses embedded services as a means to extend the reach of livelihood services to every corner.
In the next step, the community will continue to optimize service models, allowing more residents to gain a sense of happiness, safety, and belonging right at their doorstep, making the foundation of “Happy Longshan” even brighter.
Source: Pan’an County Committee of Social Work