Home » Opinion » Chinese Views
Helping old folks who live in empty nests
Source: Xinhua |
October 30, 2009, Friday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
A 71-year-old lady faced a dilemma: her sons were too busy to take proper care of her, but she was reluctant to go to a nursing home.
Liu Xiuqin lives in the Yongfeng residential community of Shenyang, capital city of northeast China's Liaoning Province. Her husband passed away in 1985.
She reared three sons on her own. Her eldest and second sons were both laid off and were running around trying to make a living, while her youngest son lived too far away to take care of her every day.
In 2006, Liu broke her waist and bed-ridden for nearly four months. "Although my sons and daughters-in-law took turns taking care of me, the community helped a lot," she recalled.
At that time, staff from the residents committee of the community not only sent her breakfast and medicine, but also helped with shopping, cleaning and cooking.
As the community maintained accident insurance for residence, Liu received reimbursement for 250 yuan (US$36.60) - half of the amount not covered by medical insurance.
"The community can take good care of elderly people," said Ding Yanhui, Liu's 38-year-old youngest son.
The community was formed in 2005. Of the 3,298 households, there are 1,232 elderly people above 60 years of age. More than half of those seniors live alone, not with children. They live in "empty nests."
The residents' committee has 13 staff members to help. Another 68 residents, all of them Party members, help care for the elderly.
Another 236 volunteers include doctors, teachers, students and business people, who provide free services like medical care, hairdressing, cleaning, shoe and bicycle repairing, bathing, legal consultation, posting letters and cooking.
Regular physical examinations are free, said Li Jun, director of the committee.
More than 8.3 percent of the Chinese population are above 65, and in most cities, more than 50 percent of the elderly people live without their children, said Chen Chuanshu, vice director of the China National Committee on Aging (CNCA) and chairman of the Chinese Aging Association.
"Taking care of them has become a social problem, which needs the efforts of the entire society," said Liu Jitong, associate professor from the Department of Health Policy and Management at the School of Public Health in Beijing University.
Chen Chuanshu believes community caring services are a good approach.
"Cost is low and as Chinese people attached great importance to family and elderly people don't want to leave their home, this approach complies with Chinese tradition culture," he said.
But according to a survey by the China Research Center on Aging (CRCA), only 19.5 percent of China's urban communities that were polled offer food delivery services.
In cities, 55 percent of the communities can provide services to apartments, while in rural areas, the figure was just 8.2 percent. Lack of personnel is a major reason.
Liu Xiuqin lives in the Yongfeng residential community of Shenyang, capital city of northeast China's Liaoning Province. Her husband passed away in 1985.
She reared three sons on her own. Her eldest and second sons were both laid off and were running around trying to make a living, while her youngest son lived too far away to take care of her every day.
In 2006, Liu broke her waist and bed-ridden for nearly four months. "Although my sons and daughters-in-law took turns taking care of me, the community helped a lot," she recalled.
At that time, staff from the residents committee of the community not only sent her breakfast and medicine, but also helped with shopping, cleaning and cooking.
As the community maintained accident insurance for residence, Liu received reimbursement for 250 yuan (US$36.60) - half of the amount not covered by medical insurance.
"The community can take good care of elderly people," said Ding Yanhui, Liu's 38-year-old youngest son.
The community was formed in 2005. Of the 3,298 households, there are 1,232 elderly people above 60 years of age. More than half of those seniors live alone, not with children. They live in "empty nests."
The residents' committee has 13 staff members to help. Another 68 residents, all of them Party members, help care for the elderly.
Another 236 volunteers include doctors, teachers, students and business people, who provide free services like medical care, hairdressing, cleaning, shoe and bicycle repairing, bathing, legal consultation, posting letters and cooking.
Regular physical examinations are free, said Li Jun, director of the committee.
More than 8.3 percent of the Chinese population are above 65, and in most cities, more than 50 percent of the elderly people live without their children, said Chen Chuanshu, vice director of the China National Committee on Aging (CNCA) and chairman of the Chinese Aging Association.
"Taking care of them has become a social problem, which needs the efforts of the entire society," said Liu Jitong, associate professor from the Department of Health Policy and Management at the School of Public Health in Beijing University.
Chen Chuanshu believes community caring services are a good approach.
"Cost is low and as Chinese people attached great importance to family and elderly people don't want to leave their home, this approach complies with Chinese tradition culture," he said.
But according to a survey by the China Research Center on Aging (CRCA), only 19.5 percent of China's urban communities that were polled offer food delivery services.
In cities, 55 percent of the communities can provide services to apartments, while in rural areas, the figure was just 8.2 percent. Lack of personnel is a major reason.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
