Amusement park facilities for older adults

2022-11-01

As Taiwan transitions to a "super-aged society" by 2025, it is estimated that at least 20% of the population will be over the age of 65. To cater to that demographic, amusement parks are adding facilities and services that are accessible for older adults in hopes of providing a safe environment for them to enjoy. FTV reporter Stephany Yang visited an amusement park in Taipei to find out what parks are doing to ensure a safe ride for older adults.

Volunteers carefully push Grandma Huang up the ramp and onto the Ferris wheel. She is 100 years old, and has been living in Shilin for nearly 50 years, but has never been to the amusement park. In order to help her pursue her lifelong dream of riding the Ferris wheel, the Huashan Social Welfare Foundation brought Grandma Huang and a dozen other older adults on a trip to the amusement park.

Grandma Huang
I finally came here for my 100th birthday. Yes, this is my first time riding a Ferris wheel. It is very beautiful.

Chen Yen-ping
Huashan Social Welfare Foundation
We brought them to visit the amusement park. Many of these older adults have never been here. For example, Grandma Huang has lived here for more than 50 years, but she had never come here.

Other than riding the Ferris wheel, the guests also went on the merry-go-round. For many of them, it was their first time visiting an amusement park. Others who have been to amusement parks before said they felt like they were reliving their childhood.

Older adult
I’m so happy. Even though I’m older, I feel like a child again.

Older adult
I didn’t ride this when I was a kid. I’ve become a child again today. The experience was very new.

Stephany Yang
FTV reporter
As Taiwan enters an aging society, amusement park operators are adding senior-friendly facilities such as a wheelchair and removable ramp so that seniors also go on the Ferris wheel.

This amusement park in Taipei says that older adults only account for approximately 10% to 20% of all visitors, but the park is improving its facilities and services to cater to the older population. Aside from providing wheelchairs and removable ramps for older adults or those with disabilities, the park also provides seats for people waiting to go on the rides.

Chu Chao-yang
Amusement park head
This is an amusement park suitable for all ages. We also welcome visitors that are older or have disabilities to come have fun at the park. If someone is unable to stand for long periods while waiting, we provide seats at each facility. That way, people can rest when they are waiting for their ride. In addition, for visitors who are in wheelchairs or those with limited mobility, rides such as the Ferris wheel, the monorail, and the merry-go-round have spaces which allow wheelchairs to directly enter. The park also offers wheelchairs if needed.

Taiwan is set to become a super-aged society by 2025. To cater to the needs of older adults, amusement parks are hoping to provide a friendly environment for people of all ages to enjoy.

長者也能安心玩兒童新樂園打造友善環境

2022-11-01

台灣預計2025年將成為「超高齡社會」，65歲以上人口將超過20%。兒童新樂園著手打造友善環境，包括輪椅和可移動式坡道等，希望讓長者也能安全、放心玩。

志工小心翼翼地將黃奶奶推上斜坡，搭乘摩天輪。今年100歲的黃奶奶，在士林生活了將近50年，卻從未來過兒童新樂園。華山基金會為了一圓她想搭上摩天輪的夢想，帶著黃奶奶和其他十幾位長者一起來玩。

[[黃奶奶]]
"終於來這邊過生日，100歲過生日。是第一次坐摩天輪，很好看"

[[華山基金會台北市代理市站長陳延平]]
"帶我們的服務的長輩一起到兒童樂園來玩，我們的長輩很多沒有來到兒童樂園，尤其是今天的黃奶奶，他雖然在地居住了50多年，但是他沒有來過"

除了搭乘摩天輪，他們還坐上旋轉木馬。有些長者是第一次來到遊樂園，有些曾經到訪過遊樂園的長者，則覺得自己在重溫童年時光。

[[長者]]
"很高興，年紀大一點，好像小孩子一樣"

[[長者]]
"我小時候沒有坐過，今天還童，然後來體驗一下，很新奇"

[[民視英語新聞記者楊怡安]]
"隨著台灣進入高齡化社會，遊樂園著手增添友善設備，比如輪椅和可移動式坡道等，讓長者也可以乘坐摩天輪"

兒童新樂園表示，雖然長者只佔遊客數的10%至20%左右，但園區正在改善設施和服務，除了為長者及身心障礙者提供輪椅和可移動式坡道外，還在等候區提供座位。

[[兒童新樂園組長褚朝陽]]
"這是一個老少咸宜的休閒場所，我們也非常歡迎銀髮族，還有身心障礙者的朋友來園區遊玩。針對銀髮族在等候過程不耐久站的話，我們在每個遊樂設施都有愛心的休息座椅，可以讓長者在等候過程當中先休息。另外針對如果是搭乘輪椅或是行動比較不便的遊客，我們在一些車廂，像是摩天輪、銀河號，旋轉木馬這樣的設施，都是適合輪椅可以直接進去遊樂設施裡面。如果沒有攜帶輪椅，園區也有準備輪椅，可以給有需要的遊客來使用"

2025年，台灣將進入超高齡社會，為了讓長者也能開心玩，兒童新樂園打造友善環境，希望能符合各個年齡層的需求。