Double Duty

I read a fascinating article on the BBC about delivery people who serve almost as default social workers, checking in on people as they bring yogurt to people’s homes.

On paper they’re delivery workers, but in practice they’re part of the country’s informal social safety net. In a country grappling with a rapidly ageing population and a deepening loneliness crisis, Yakult Ladies have become an unlikely source of community, helping to reduce the problem of isolation one drop-off at a time.

It’s not just reducing isolation. They end up being almost a front-line worker:

The maternal figures offer a friendly face, weekly check-ins and, for many older residents, a lifeline of human connection. They also notice subtle changes in a customer’s routine. If someone fails to answer the door, they may alert family members or seek assistance.

I think about how different it is here, where items are often left outside and the delivery person texts to let you know it’s at the door. I love this idea of people keeping the same routine, the same houses, year after year. Having the exchange be a societal check:

Are you okay?

I’m okay.