Seodaemun-gu Yeonhui-dong Gifts Companion Plants to 50 Elderly Living Alone, Receives Applause

Low Maintenance Costs with Expected Benefits of Air Purification, Physical Activity, and Emotional Stability

Officials from the Mabom Council in Yeonhui-dong, Seodaemun-gu, are preparing companion plants to be given to elderly people living alone.

[Asia Economy Reporter Jongil Park] Seodaemun-gu (Mayor Moon Seok-jin) announced on the 22nd that the Yeonhui-dong Mabom Council recently launched the “Another Family, Growing Companion Plants” project targeting 50 single elderly households in the area, receiving positive responses.

This project was initiated based on the Mabom Council members’ idea to “gift companion plants so that single elderly people, struggling with social distancing, can interact with plants to gain emotional stability and vitality in their daily lives.”

Fifty companion plants such as Spathiphyllum, Kalanchoe, Areca Palm, Geranium, Rubber Tree, and Croton were prepared using the Mabom Council’s sponsorship funds.

Council members, welfare chiefs, welfare planners, and visiting nurses visited each single elderly household to deliver the pots and provide guidance on health management during seasonal changes.

Each pot was labeled with a message of hope along with the contact information of the local community center’s welfare officer, allowing the elderly to call in case of emergencies.

Growing plants requires little cost, allows for leaving the house for certain periods, and offers benefits such as air purification and physical activity.

An 86-year-old grandmother who received a plant said, “I have been quite lonely lately since I can’t meet people often, but now I have something to do,” adding, “I’m already looking forward to the new leaves sprouting.”

The council plans to link this project with existing initiatives such as the “Sharing Store Porridge Delivery Project” and the health center’s “Balanced Nutrition Meal Delivery Project” for single elderly people in poor health.

Choi Jae-sook, Chairperson of the Yeonhui-dong Mabom Council, said, “I hope that the simple joy of growing companion plants will help the elderly regain some vitality in their lives.”

The Yeonhui-dong Mabom Council has previously carried out various projects including horticultural therapy classes, dementia prevention classes, customized family motto delivery, fall accident prevention item delivery, bath coupons and bed delivery for vulnerable groups, and installation of entrance insect screens.

“Mabom Council” is the name of the “Seodaemun-gu Dong Community Social Security Council,” a public-private welfare cooperation organization at the neighborhood level, meaning “caring for neighbors’ hearts and the village.” It is organized and active in all 14 neighborhoods of Seodaemun-gu.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.