After reaching the age of retirement, senior citizens often find themselves with little opportunity to maintain active and social lifestyles. A 2015 survey of over 500 elderly citizens in Ulaanbaatar revealed a dire need in Mongolia for senior social and medical care. To fulfill this demand, founders has founded one of Mongolia’s first senior recreation providers: Quality Life NGO. This non-profit
organization is currently operating senior center, Quality Life Club, at several districts of Ulaanbaatar. Quality Life Club is a social-based senior center that provides seniors with the opportunity to engage with peers, their community, and exercise their bodies and minds. Many of the elders that attend this organization are retirees of demanding professions, including doctors, lawyers, and teachers, all of whom desire occasion to utilize their intellectual abilities. The Quality Life Club gives seniors exactly that chance. The Club currently hosts an organized program once a week in several locations. Members are invited to socialize and befriend each other in an engaging setting. The seniors play intellectual card and board games that encourage use of their minds and cognitive skills. The games also provide friendly competition that invokes enthusiasm and motivation, which are positive enforcers of activity. These games incorporate use of math, reasoning, memory, and reflex skills. They are also available for sale for the members and their families and friends to enjoy at home. Also through games and relaxed instruction, the seniors are given enjoyable lessons in English language and speaking skills. After free time to socialize, snack, and play the games unsupervised, the Club brings in guest speakers that discuss interesting topics concerning senior lifestyle and health. The response to this program has been overwhelmingly positive from its participants and their families, who are thrilled that they finally have the chance to be active and involved with others even after retirement. The NGO’s slogan is “Quality of Life for Everyone”, which is exactly what the Club endeavors to provide for senior citizens. All the activities in the Club’s program encourage a healthy and dynamic senior lifestyle. Quality Life NGO’s board is passionate about pioneering senior care service in Mongolia upholding international standards. In 2017, Quality life is collaborating with local businesses to support seniors to have meaningful jobs and share their extensive knowledge and experience with other businesses and community members. Since 2019, the NGO is expanding its service to support older adults and young adults to gain work and cultural experience overseas. It supported over 30 Mongolians to work in Hawaii, USA for a short period. We also run senior activities in Honolulu, Hawaii, in partnership with the University of Hawaii, and local non-profits.
