Which playground is for the elderly?

(Baonghean.vn) - Currently, Vinh city has more than 36 thousand elderly people, this is a group that needs social attention in both material and spiritual life.But creating 'playgrounds' for the elderly seems to be forgotten.

As a person who loves physical activities, even though he is over 70 years old, Mr. Nguyen Tien Binh (Quan Bau Ward, Vinh City) still maintains a regular daily practice of playing shuttlecock and jogging. However, because his yard is too small and his family lives far from the park, he has to use the sidewalk on Nguyen Trai Street to practice. Knowing that it is inconvenient, it is his reluctant choice in the current situation of "narrow land and crowded people".

Mr. Binh also said that not only he but many people in the block are also suffering from the same situation. Although the block’s cultural house has been put into operation, the small yard is not enough to meet the needs of hundreds of people in the block. Therefore, taking advantage of sidewalks, alleys, yards, etc. as places for activities and entertainment is almost mandatory.

Mr. Binh takes advantage of the rare space on the sidewalk to exercise. Photo: Thanh Quynh

In Hung Phuc ward, Mr. Nguyen Dinh Cung, Chairman of the ward's Elderly Association, said: Currently, the ward has 1,235 members of the Elderly Association divided into 17 clubs. Among them, clubs such as Volleyball, Health and Wellness, Arts and Culture... attract hundreds of active members.

Not only bringing joy, the clubs have contributed to equipping the elderly with knowledge to protect their health in old age, live happily, live healthily and live usefully with their children and grandchildren.

However, the problem is that the training and activities of the clubs are often held at the block cultural house. While the whole ward only has 11 cultural houses and this is not a place specifically for the elderly to participate in activities.

It is also a common place for many classes such as teenagers or middle-aged people's clubs. Therefore, the lack of places to practice and live is a reality that is forcing the elderly to give up their passion.

Lack of living space forces many elderly people to give up their favorite recreational activities. Photo: Thanh Quynh

In apartment buildings and collective housing, the issue of "playgrounds" for the elderly is more urgent than ever. Specifically, at Nguyen Sy Sach apartment building (Hung Dung ward), small spaces are used as playgrounds for children. The remaining small areas are used as parking lots for cars. Therefore, it is very difficult for the elderly living in the area to find physical and mental activities for themselves.

If there is any, it is only walking around the apartment complex or small roads along the adjacent residential areas. However, many people cannot maintain this useful sport because of the dangers they face when the traffic volume here is very high during rush hour. Many curves have narrow visibility, hidden by many obstacles.

Nguyen Tat Thanh Park is one of the rare places for the elderly to have space to relax. Photo: Thanh Quynh

Sharing about the above issue, Mr. Ho Van Hoi, Chairman of the Vinh City Elderly Association, said: "Currently, the whole city has more than 36,000 elderly members active in more than 120 branches. Members have actively participated in local cultural events such as celebrating holidays and New Year's, performing arts and sports competitions for the elderly or traditional festivals of wards and communes.

In addition to the joy of being with children and grandchildren, socializing, participating in clubs, and physical training activities... are essential needs of the elderly. However, "playgrounds" for the elderly are becoming a very difficult problem when land funds are limited, the population is too large, and finding a place for the elderly to live and entertain is an unsolved problem.

It can be seen that all ages need appropriate recreational activities, especially the elderly. However, in reality, playgrounds for the elderly have not yet met their practical needs. It is difficult for the elderly to have a space to relax and live in the current "every inch of land is gold" situation./.

Thanh Quynh