Eden Foundation’s first “community-based long-term care center—day care service” in Keelung City will be located on the third floor of Yude Building at Dung Xin Elementary School, providing services to residents in Keelung City who require long-term care. This marks a “first demonstration” for Keelung City, representing an innovative model that repurposes idle campus space for long-term care services and sets a new milestone in combining campus resource sharing with social services.

On the morning of the 9th, Apr., Eden Foundation held a launch ceremony at the Dung Xin Elementary School Activity Center. The event kicked off with lively performances by the Dong Xin Elementary School Samba Drum Team and seniors from the Eden Beitou Yifu Day Care Center. The CEO Tine-Yuan Ho of Eden Foundation, Director Hsien-Cheng Chang of Keelung City Health Bureau, Principal Shu-Hua Tseng of Dung Xin Elementary School, and several local elected officials were in attendance to offer their blessings for the launch of the new service.

Dung Xin Elementary School offers a safe and welcoming campus environment with spacious, well-lit facilities and comprehensive barrier-free access, making it ideal for day care services. By repurposing the school grounds, the initiative creates an inclusive space that integrates education and care, allowing seniors to enter the campus and become part of daily life. This not only enriches their daily activities but also fosters natural interaction between generations, putting the concept of “intergenerational inclusion” into practice.
 

Department of Health, Keelung City Government stated that in response to the super-aged society, the city government has actively promoted the expansion of long-term care resources. Over the past three years, the number of day care centers has increased from 9 to 13, with 5 more currently being established to strengthen the community-based care network. The Dung Xin Community-Based Long-Term Care Center, established through inter-departmental collaboration within the municipal government, successfully transformed the third floor of Yude Building at Dung Xin Elementary School into Keelung’s first urban planning public facility site. Designed with a separate entrance and exit to ensure overall campus safety while accommodating multi-purpose use, it adds a touch of warmth to Keelung’s long-term care services.
 

Eden Foundation stated that the Dung Xin Community-Based Long-Term Care Center’s services will be tailored to the local needs of the seniors. In addition to offering diverse programs such as health promotion, cognitive training, daily living skills, and social engagement, the center has specially established a quiet sensory room. Equipped with bubble tube lights, projector lights, and sensory walls, this space helps soothe emotional anxiety among the seniors and may help slow cognitive decline. Additionally, the center features a foot-soaking area and a karaoke room, ensuring that every senior in need can enjoy a fulfilling later life within their local community.
 

Eden stated that it will continue to collaborate with the school in the future, combining the school’s specialized curriculum with community resources to create more opportunities for interaction between students and seniors. The hope is that, within this blueprint for “intergenerational inclusion,” children will learn to respect and care for the seniors, while seniors will find new self-worth through companionship. The center plans to begin operations in May, providing day care services for 30 seniors. Residents with senior family members in need of care are welcome to follow the Eden Keelung Dung Xin Community-Based Long-Term Care Center Facebook page (opens in a new window).