A Story of Seongbuk-gu Seniors Overcoming Home Isolation Loneliness by Growing Shiitake Mushrooms?

Seongbuk-gu Provides Shiitake Mushroom Growing Kits to Alleviate Elderly Loneliness 200 Seniors Receiving Customized Care Services... Growing Shiitake Mushrooms to Relieve Home-Stay Stress and Depression

An elderly person living alone happily receiving a shiitake mushroom growing kit

[Asia Economy Reporter Jongil Park] Seongbuk-gu (Lee Seung-ro) is receiving positive evaluations for its shiitake mushroom growing kit sharing project aimed at alleviating loneliness among the elderly.

The shiitake mushroom growing kit sharing was conducted in collaboration between Seongbuk-gu and the Seongbuk Senior Welfare Center (Director Song Hyang-sook), targeting 200 elderly individuals receiving customized elderly care services.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many elderly people who complained of the frustration of indoor life and psychological anxiety felt a sense of accomplishment and regained vitality in life through the process of growing shiitake mushrooms.

Additionally, by using the grown shiitake mushrooms to cook meals, they enjoy the dual benefits of small daily pleasures and nutritional intake through healthy ingredients.

The elderly’s shiitake mushroom cultivation is carried out alongside daily living support care. The assigned care worker begins by explaining how to properly grow shiitake mushrooms and maintains regular visits to engage in conversations on common topics, checking on their well-being and encouraging emotional stability.

Mrs. An*ja (88), who is participating in the shiitake mushroom growing project, smiled and said, “The senior centers and silver centers were closed, so I was just lying down at home all day, but as I grew mushrooms, named them, and talked to them, I became so attached that even when they fully grew, I couldn’t bring myself to cook them.”

Lee Seung-ro, Mayor of Seongbuk-gu, stated, “When visiting the field, many elderly people expressed that loneliness was scarier than COVID-19. This feedback made us consider that non-face-to-face welfare is an important direction in the post-COVID era. Seeing how they found comfort and vitality by growing mushrooms or companion plants, we discovered various ideas and possibilities.”

Seongbuk-gu is developing and supporting various programs such as non-face-to-face well-being checks, companionship, daily living support, and service linkage to prevent infections among elderly people vulnerable to COVID-19.