As the sun climbs quickly over a baseball field in Dali district, Taichung, the players arrive and start adjusting their helmets and gloves. Soon, they are throwing balls back and forth – a simple drill that reflects trust, connection, and the joy of keeping both body and spirit engaged.
“I encourage older people to go outdoors,” says Fang-ming Ma, who is 80 years old and one of the hundreds of older Taiwanese residents participating in the Bulao Baseball League. He explains that playing baseball “broadens horizons and allows you to make more friends.”
According to United Nations criteria, Taiwan recently joined the ranks of “super-aged” societies, in which 1 in 5 residents are age 65 or older. Initiatives such as the Bulao league aim to “break the perception that older people are confined to their homes,” says Ros Lee, CEO of the Hondao Senior Citizen’s Welfare Foundation, which launched the league.
Bulao 125, a Hondao-founded restaurant near Taichung Park that is staffed entirely by older people, also encourages staying active. Traditional Taiwanese meals – such as meatballs, slow-simmered soups, and oyster omelets – serve as a bridge between generations.
Inside the kitchen, three women move in practiced coordination, navigating the narrow work area with ease. A-Men Huang, who is in her 70s, explains that cooking for others makes her happy. “I don’t want to stay at home just watching television,” she says.
And technology is her ally as she ages. “Now, you can search online and learn how to cook what you don’t know,” she adds.
