Gerontology Students Visit Taiwan's Retirement Villages

Twenty-one students from SIM University's Master of Gerontology programme went on a study trip to Taiwan from 10-14 March 2015, to learn more about one of the fastest growing ageing countries in Asia. Although Taiwan and Singapore share an Asian cultural origin, their approach towards ageing is very different.

The students visited Buddhist- and Christian-run hospitals and nursing homes, and were impressed with their resident-centric holistic approach and spiritual care. They learnt that apart from medical intervention, the Taiwanese positive perception of their elderly was a key factor to producing positive results. Its seniors are encouraged to chase their dreams and on a visit to Hondao Senior Citizens Welfare Foundation, the students had the opportunity to meet a group of elderly folks who rode motorcycles round the island. Their daring adventure was captured in an award-winning documentary titled Go Grandriders.

<sub>A staff from Chang Gung Health and Culture Village – a retirement village in Taiwan –orientates the students to a model of its village.

The students with three Grandriders (first row, centre).</sub>