Joyful Aging-Embracing the Beauty of Life Together

Together, everyone stacked large, heavy bags of garbage, piling them one on top of the other.

After cleaning Grandpa Lin's rented home, more than 30 bags of trash had formed a small mountain. Since the house needed to be returned to the landlord and Grandpa Lin, who had already moved into a facility, was unable to clean it himself, the social worker gathered several partners to form a "clean-up team" to complete the task.

The house, where Grandpa Lin had lived for decades, was filled with an overwhelming amount of belongings. The team divided the tasks, assigning each person a different area of responsibility. Unwanted items were discarded, while important possessions were kept for safekeeping by Hondao on behalf of Grandpa Lin.

During the cleaning process, it felt as though we were getting to know Grandpa Lin all over again. In his journals over the years, he meticulously recorded every organization that had assisted him. Among his treasured clippings was a news report about his time as a driver for the Health Bureau, highlighting his kindness in transporting people to the hospital. There were also framed certificates of commendation for outstanding service and cards from Hondao, all of which he had carefully preserved.

As we looked through photos of outings and meals with Grandpa Lin, we saw his transformation from robust and energetic to frail and disabled. Our hearts were filled with deep emotion, recognizing how long Hondao has accompanied him on this journey. We felt grateful to have been there for him—from his days of health to his transition into a care facility. Although he lacks the care of family, in his twilight years, Grandpa Lin is cared for by Hondao and surrounded by the warmth of love.

On this beautiful day, we visited Grandpa at the facility, but he began to weep…

As we wheeled Grandpa outside to bask in the sunlight, he suddenly began to cry, as if he was recalling some sad memory. We rushed to comfort and console him. Although Grandpa’s speech was impaired by dementia and we could barely hear him, we could still make out him saying, "Thank you for visiting me. Fortunately, I still have you guys..."

Grandpa Lin, who used to live alone in a rented apartment, once worked as a driver for the Health Bureau in his prime. As he aged, he faced multiple health challenges, including the severe effects of two strokes that greatly affected his mobility and speech. Upon learning of his situation, Hondao initiated meal delivery services to address his concerns about food and arranged appropriate long-term care services. However, due to dementia, Grandpa had completely lost the ability to care for himself and often had to crawl up and down the stairs. Additionally, we discovered that he may have been scammed by someone he knew.

To ensure Grandpa's well-being and financial security, Hondao assumed the legal role of his "guardian," effectively becoming his family despite having no blood ties. Hondao's social workers facilitated his move into a suitable facility where professionals could attend to his daily needs. Every month, Hondao's social workers would bring essential items to the facility, check on Grandpa, and spend time chatting with him to ensure both his financial stability and emotional well-being.