Taiwanese churches’ ministry and response to an aging population

["Taiwan Church News" <enews@pctpress.org>]

3059 Edition

October 11~17, 2010

Church Ministry News

Taiwanese churches’ ministry and response to an aging population

Reported by staff reporters

Written by Lydia Ma



A recent typhoon in Taiwan brought to the surface many social 
problems, including neglected 

and helpless elderly people who must fend for themselves. Since there 
aren’t many social 

welfare programs in existence in Taiwan, the responsibility for 
taking care of the elderly has 

usually fallen on family members or religious organizations.



One of the distinctive aspects of PCT is its involvement in the 
social issues of the day. Hence, 

it is no surprise that a PCT church – Shuang-Lien Presbyterian Church 
– would include running 

a senior home as one of its key ministries.



Social workers interviewed for this report have commented that 
churches are great places to 

connect with people and seniors can benefit a great deal from 
churches because the latter can 

help them get connected, get information, become motivated, and 
become active and helpful 

participants of their society.

 

One PCT church’s ministry to seniors

Shuang-Lien Presbyterian Church in Taipei has won 3 national awards 
in the past few years for 

managing one of the best senior homes in the nation. Not only is this 
facility spacious, it’s 

surrounded by beaches and mountains. With an excellent team of 
physicians and wheelchair-

accessible facilities, Shuang-Lien Elderly Center has also served as 
one of the local branches 

of PCT Pine Life University for seniors. 



Shuang-Lien operates a separate senior daycare center, participates 
in community outreach 

programs and continues to offer leisure, medicine and travel programs 
for seniors. There are 

currently more than 400 residents living in Shuang-Lien Elderly 
Center.



As for registration fees, the center charges residents according room 
size and whether they 

stay in a one, four, or six-people bedroom. Monthly registration fees 
typically range from 

NT$19,000 to NT$34,000.

 

Christian hospital-affiliated senior homes



Kaohsiung Christian Hospital’s Ark Senior Home, a hospital and senior 
home operated by the 

Lutheran Church, recently became the center housing the highest 
number of seniors with 

Alzheimer’s disease. One of the distinctive aspects of this home is 
that pastors visit every 

week and lead worship services followed by personal visits. The 
hospital has also partnered 

with members of the community and established a daycare center for 
seniors.



Another nursing home in Kaohsiung affiliated with St. Joseph Catholic 
Hospital specializes in 

taking care of seniors with chronic diseases. Not only is this center 
staffed 24-hours every day, 

it also hires physicians, therapists, pharmacists, nutritionists, 
etc. to provide quality assistance 

to seniors. The center coordinates its residents’ schedule to include 
group activities and 

spiritual counseling.

 

A Christian social worker’s perspective



One Christian social worker we’ll call Miss Shan observed that many 
religious organizations 

like to visit and help out at senior homes as part of their 
charitable works. But if they’re not 

careful or considerate, they may wind up becoming a burden instead of 
becoming helpful 

volunteers.



Miss Shan explained that sometimes religious organizations become too 
bossy and 

condescending toward seniors and forget they’re supposed to perceive 
things from the 

perspective of an elderly person seeking companionship. 



To illustrate her point, she said she saw some Christians organizing 
choir performances at 

senior homes rudely barge into a senior’s bedroom and drag a poor 
senior out to hear the 

choir sing. In most cases, before this senior has a chance to really 
get to know these 

volunteers, the day is over and the volunteers prepare to leave.



One-time outreach events like this one are probably best suited for 
elderly Christians who 

already know what to expect, feel comfortable in that kind of 
setting, and merely want to attend 

a church service. Such events rarely build relationships or 
friendships or trust between seniors 

and volunteers.



In contrast, “Buddhist volunteers have a long-term strategy when it 
comes to volunteering at 

senior homes. They tend to come more often and commit to visiting 
elderly people for the long 

haul,” Shan pointed out.



Shan underscored that many elderly living in senior homes are 
bed-ridden and suffer from low-

self esteem. It is often difficult for them to open up their hearts 
to total strangers. “That’s why I 

think long-term commitment and regular visits are the most important 
aspects of volunteering. 

Truly, volunteers don’t need to possess a lot of skills – they just 
need to be there and willing to 

listen.”

 

********************

Taiwan Church News is published weekly in Taiwan's local languages. 

You may translate and re-use our articles online only if you 
acknowledge the source as 

"Taiwan Church News" and list the names of the reporter and writer. 

Contact us before reprinting any of our articles for print 
publications. 

Direct comments and questions about this article to: 
enews@pctpress.org

Visit our website for more news at: http://enews.pctpress.org/ 
(English) 

http://www.pctpress.org (Chinese) 

********************