Give the Elderly a Bath in Springs of Caring

After over three months of meticulous care, a vegetative patient miraculously regained consciousness. This heartwarming breakthrough brought tears streaming down Huang Meimei's face. As a seasoned healthcare professional, Huang had devoted herself to tending to numerous disabled patients, diligently assisting them in turning over on the bed and tenderly cleansing their bodies with warm towels to prevent the formation of painful bedsores.

"In addition to providing essential care, I also administered a full-body massage to him every day," Huang shared. "Witnessing his remarkable transformation from a vegetative state to being able to walk independently within a mere three months, I felt an overwhelming sense of pride and joy." Huang recounted this deeply touching story that unfolded at her workplace, Aizhiquan (Spring of Caring), a nursing service company located in the coastal city of Haikou in China's southernmost province of Hainan.

"The nursing industry faces a significant challenge in the absence of unified supervision standards and comprehensive evaluation systems," explained Zhu Yuxia, the founder of Aizhiquan. "As a result, the quality of nursing workers' professional skills and ethics can vary greatly. To ensure the prevention of elder abuse, we prioritize the moral integrity of our nursing workers, followed by their professional expertise." Zhu proudly shared these insights as Aizhiquan celebrated eleven years of remarkable growth, boasting a team of over 500 dedicated nursing professionals.

According to the seventh national population census, the population of individuals aged 60 and above in Hainan has exceeded 1.47 million, accounting for 10.43% of the province's total population. It is projected that by the year 2025, the number of permanent residents aged 60 and above in the province is expected to reach a staggering 1,613,400.

The surging statistics clearly highlight the growing need for nursing homes and elderly care facilities. Recognizing this demand, the Hainan government is actively advocating for the establishment of additional elderly care institutions and the expansion of professional elderly care services.

In response to this call, Aizhiquan answered by establishing a nursing home in 2022 named Futaikang which literally means "happiness and fitness." in English. At present, Futaikang has housed 47 seniors, with a significant portion being elderly individuals with dementia and disabilities.

"Contrary to what many people might assume, taking care of these elderly individuals with dementia is not as disheartening as one might expect," shared Wang Ying, one of the compassionate nursing workers at Futaikang. "Some of them exhibit childlike behaviors, requiring gentle persuasion when it comes to dressing, eating, and bathing," she explained, all the while attentively observing and tending to every movement of the seniors under her care.

Caring for the elderly demands circumspection. "This notebook meticulously documents each senior's dietary intake, defecation, and medication schedule, enabling me to provide personalized care tailored to their individual physical needs," Wang explained, retrieving her notebook adorned with a multitude of notes and figures.

At Aizhiquan, the average age of nursing workers stands at 45 years old, serving as a representative sample of the elderly care industry. Zhu Yuxia remarked, "It is a paradoxical reality that caregivers are often not much younger than the elderly individuals they are caring for." She further emphasized that the elderly care industry is in dire need of young individuals to inject vitality and fresh perspectives, breathing new life into this essential sector.