The civil affair authority in the city of Suzhou has started to pilot overnight care services for the elderly as more elderly people live alone.
85-year-old Granny Wang lives alone. Her children are very filial. Her youngest son spared the time to cook a meal for her on a recent day.
Wang Xuehua, a resident in Suzhou
It doesn’t matter during the day.My children cook the meal and I heat the dishes in the microwave oven.But I dread night as I live alone.
With her heart fitted with a stent, Grandma Wang often suffered from palpitation and shortness of breath.
Her daughter would come over and sleep by the bedside to ensure that her mother is safe and sound during the night.
As luck would have it, the civil affair authority in Suzhou has started to provide overnight senior care and elderly care services.
The Administrative Measures for the Construction and Operation of Night Care Beds for Elders will request the assistance of qualified elderly care institutions to provide overnight senior care for the elders who live alone.
Dai Huijie, Deputy Director of Social Work, Shuangta Sub-district, Gusu District, Suzhou
Anyone over 60 years old can apply but we are prioritizing those in their senior age who live alone or are handicapped.We offer home care services both physically and mentally and also deal with emergencies.
Among the elderly in Suzhou city, 90% choose to stay home for their late years, 6% rely on residential communities for help and 4% live in nursing homes where they are taken good care of.
