“退役”公交车变身“养老助餐车”

Core Viewpoint - The "Elderly Bus Meal Assistance" initiative in Wuda District, Inner Mongolia, addresses the dining difficulties faced by elderly residents, particularly those living alone, by repurposing retired buses into mobile dining facilities [1][2][5]. Group 1: Initiative Overview - The initiative was launched by the Wuda District Civil Affairs Bureau to tackle the issue of elderly residents struggling with meal preparation [1][2]. - The repurposed buses are stationed in areas with high elderly populations and limited dining options, effectively utilizing idle public resources [1][2][6]. Group 2: Demographics and Needs - Wuda District has a population of approximately 122,700, with around 27,000 individuals aged 60 and above, representing 21.76% of the total population [2]. - A significant portion of the elderly population lives alone, leading to nutritional challenges due to difficulties in meal preparation [2][5]. Group 3: Operational Model - The meal assistance service operates on a model of "demand-based ordering, centralized cooking, and distributed serving," offering around 10 meal options daily at a price of 12 yuan [5][6]. - Government subsidies are available for specific elderly individuals, reducing their meal costs to 2 yuan for breakfast and 4 yuan for lunch [5][6]. Group 4: Community Impact - The initiative has seen high engagement, with an average of 600 diners per day at the meal assistance buses, fostering community interaction among residents [5][6]. - The buses serve as community hubs where residents can share information and support each other [5][6]. Group 5: Sustainability and Expansion - The Wuda District is exploring a dual approach of "policy support and market development" to ensure the sustainability of the meal assistance service [6][8]. - Plans are in place to expand the service with additional buses and to develop an online ordering system for greater accessibility [6][8].