A man is assisted by Liang Huilan, the headed of Respite Care Service Team. (Photo : beijing.china.org)
The Respite Care Service Team, an organization in Balizhuang, a sub-district of Chaoyang District in Beijing, has organized a "Long-lasting Happiness" care service system for 39 elders every month to offer them convenience.
The service team, headed by Liang Huilan, has over 90 members and is given regular training as well as daily necessities in return to inspire them to assist senior citizens who can no longer take care of themselves, Lyu Dong, director of Dongli neighborhood in Balizhuang, said.
Zhang Fulai, director of the sub-district office of Balizhuang, revealed that the practice will also be introduced to other pilot communities in Balizhuang.
A 96-year-old man under the care of the organization said that he thinks of Liang and her team when he needs assistance as his three daughter are busy to look after him.
This just shows how grateful the elders are for the organization's initiative.
According to the Beijing.China.Org, the Services Ordinance of Home-based Care for the Aged will be established in Beijing in May.
Balizhuang has approximately 120,000 residents where 26,000 or 21.6 percent are elderly people.
Statistics also show that 4,100 households are considered as "empty nesters," a situation in which one or more parents, mostly elderly people, live after the children have left home.
Zhang Chun, director of Nanjing's Psychological Crisis Intervention Center, said that empty nesters should be given more attention, especially to the mental health of the elderly.
