With the aging population and the rising prevalence of dementia, Department of Health (DOH) of Kaohsiung City Government has been actively aligning public and private sectors and community capacities to promote senior-friendly and dementia-friendly organizations, constructing an interdisciplinary friendly network covering medical care, social affairs, businesses, and transportation, etc. Four major convenience store chains and 15 financial institutions have joined the initiative this year (2025). Over 80% of the company-owned convenience stores and almost all branches of the financial institutions have joined the initiative. It shows the business sector’s support for the city’s determination and accomplishment of creating friendly environment for the aged and dementia population, wishing to make Kaohsiung a senior-friendly city.
In appreciation for the devotion of the business enterprises, DOH held the “2025 Age- and Dementia-friendly Organizations” recognition ceremony yesterday (November 21), where appreciation awards were given to participating enterprises by DOH Deputy Director-general Wang Hsiao-hsing in recognition of their active support as important partners of Kaohsiung City’s Age- and Dementia-friendly Organizations. Certificated businesses that bear Kaohsiung City’s exclusive friendly identification sticker for Age- and Dementia-friendly Organizations were also introduced and publicized in the occasion, so that citizens may recognize them and help disseminate the friendly image and energy of the city.
Enterprises that have joined the ranks of Age- and Dementia-friendly Organizations this year include the four major convenience store chains, i.e., FamilyMart, OK Mart, President Chain Store Corporation (7-Eleven), and Hi-Life International, as well as 15 financial corporations including SinoPac Securities, E.SUN Commercial Bank, Taishin Securities, Taishin International Bank, Taipei Fubon Commercial Bank, Entie Bank, King’s Town Bank, Bank of Kaohsiung, Cathay Securities Investment Trust, Cathay Securities Corporation, First Securities Corporation, Fubon Securities, Fubon Insurance, Bank of Taiwan, and Taiwan Business Bank (sorted by Chinese stroke count). With businesses echoing the initiative of making Kaohsiung a “senior-friendly city,” it shows everyone’s determination and accomplishment in creating a senior-friendly and dementia-friendly environment across the board.
This year marks the first time all four major convenience store chains have collaborated on this initiative. Through specialized education and training, store clerks are empowered to act as “Dementia-Friendly Angels.” They are trained to identify individuals with suspected dementia, provide immediate guidance, or refer them for appropriate support, effectively integrating care into daily life. Furthermore, since merchandise in convenience stores usually have labels with small fonts due to packaging constraint, it creates difficulty for senior citizens when they shop. DOH thus offers to provide product information magnifiers for participating company-owned convenience stores, so that information such as product labels, ingredients, and prices can be magnified. This offers both convenience and respect for the elderly when they shop and elevates the quality of senior-friendly service of local convenience stores.
Moreover, the 15 financial corporations in Kaohsiung City have also introduced friendly counter services to help senior citizens and dementia patients suffering memory loss or expression difficulty. Lines of motion to the counters are improved, and accompanying officers to assist with bank services and help recognizing texts are introduced, so that financial transactions can be carried out in a safer and more secure way.
Promoting senior-friendly organizations is not only a policy, but also a city cultural movement, said DOH. Interdisciplinary collaboration will be carried out consistently in the future to incorporate friendly services in day-to-day life, driving Kaohsiung towards the vision of a senior-friendly city.