“No problem is too big to be dealt with, no problem is too small to be dealt with and no one has to face it all alone.” This is the motto of the British charity “The Silver Line”. As a 24-hour free and confidential telephone hotline service specifically for the elderly, it hopes to alleviate the loneliness of the elderly as much as possible. Since its establishment, it has received more than 5 million calls.

Aging is a journey that no one can avoid. When the traces of time quietly creep up on their faces and their body functions gradually decline, the elderly face many difficulties. Mobility problems have become a major obstacle in their lives. The steps they once took easily have become heavy and difficult. Diseases are more likely to come to them, making them physically and mentally exhausted. The loneliness in their hearts is like a haze. Their children are busy and their old friends have left one after another. The empty room has become an airtight iron box. The door to society can no longer be opened, and only a long silence remains.

According to the World Population Prospects 2024 report released by the United Nations, the proportion of the global population aged 65 and over is expected to reach more than 14% in 2024, entering an aging social structure. In developed countries or regions, such as Japan, Italy, Germany, etc., the aging problem is particularly serious, with the proportion of the elderly population exceeding 20%, and in some countries even reaching more than 29%. The ageing population is a group of countless individuals who are eager for care and need help. They have dedicated their lives to society, and now in the twilight of their lives, they deserve our most sincere care and protection. This care is not only material security, but also spiritual comfort, so that they can still feel warmth and respect in the last stage of their lives.

As the global aging population continues to intensify, more and more public welfare organizations and caring people are actively involved in caring for the elderly. In the UK, there are many projects like “The Silver Line”, for example, the “Green Age” project, which uses gardening and animal therapy to improve the quality of life of the elderly, ignite their passion for life, and provide them with opportunities for social interaction through common interests. Coincidentally, the Retired & Senior Volunteer Program and the Foster Grandparents Program in the United States both provide volunteer positions to allow the elderly to serve the community through their life experience, improve their sense of social participation, and thus reduce their loneliness. In China, various street communities are actively carrying out a series of activities to respect the elderly, such as the “Grandparents and Grandchildren Fun House” supported by the “Idol Silver Age Care” project in Nanjing, which provides interest group classes for the elderly, and also offers “Grandparents and Grandchildren Fun” learning courses such as painting, calligraphy, etiquette, and opera for grandparents and grandchildren, so that the elderly can actively integrate into the lives of young people.

In addition, there are also many public welfare organizations that provide daily care, recreational activities and health checks for the elderly through volunteers. For example, Granin Lähiavun in Sweden, the Elderly Care Project under the Greek TIMA Charity Foundation, and Elder Helpers in the United States all provide companionship and support to the elderly by connecting volunteers with the elderly in need, and organize recreational activities and social activities for them. The “time bank” which originated in Switzerland can not only provide help and companionship to the elderly, but also allow these volunteers who provide services to enjoy goodwill feedback in the future. In this special “bank”, time has become the most precious “currency”. Volunteers, who are mainly composed of healthy and enthusiastic young people or young elderly people, use companionship and care for the elderly as “time savings”; help with shopping, cleaning, and chatting with the elderly to relieve boredom. These seemingly ordinary actions contain endless warmth and strength. Every minute of effort is accurately deposited into the individual’s “time account”. When the years go by, these former contributors can use the “time savings” to withdraw corresponding services when they need care from others. Christina is one of the practitioners. She took good care of 82-year-old Professor Lisa and insisted on serving her twice a week for two hours each time. Later, she accidentally fell and the “Time Bank” brought her 22-year-old Vicky to take care of her and help her recover. Today, the “Time Bank” has taken root and borne fruit in more than 30 countries around the world.

In technologically advanced Germany, facing the increasingly severe problems of aging and shortage of nursing staff, scientists have cleverly used the power of information technology and 3D technology to develop intelligent nursing robots, allowing the warmth of technology to melt the loneliness of the elderly. These robots are like caring assistants, bringing many conveniences to the lives of the elderly. In remote areas, it is difficult, but with nursing robots, the situation is very different. With the help of robots, doctors can make accurate diagnoses remotely, as if they were on the scene. In daily life, the robot is even more caring, delivering meals on time to ensure that the elderly have no worries about eating; if the elderly accidentally fall, it can send a distress signal in the first time; it can also help the elderly chat with relatives and friends via video, allowing family affection to transcend distance.

Caring for the elderly does not require earth-shattering feats, but only small things. A phone call, a companionship, or a greeting can make them feel warm. In the 2024 “Next Generation Philanthropy Leadership Program”, a student multimedia charity project Silver Sayang was born with the vision of alleviating loneliness and promoting mental health among the elderly. They are committed to solving the social isolation problem that may affect the elderly by creating a vibrant community so that the elderly can feel seen, heard, and valued.

In fact, each of us can, like the Silver Sayang team, try to become a volunteer from today, or just share this love. Maybe just a small, unintentional action can bring warmth and comfort to the elderly, make more people pay attention to the needs of the elderly, and light up the lives of the elderly with love.