Caring for the Elderly

by Yin Li

For the past 12 months， Xu Yanhas learned to be an easily woken， light sleeper. In fact， for the past year she has served as a domestic helper stationed in the same house. She cannot sleep deeply because her job is taking care of a couple in their nineties.

In the opposite room， an elderly woman lies still in bed. Her eyes are somber pools reflecting no light. Her husband is doing much better， compared with his wife paralyzed for years. However， a recent serious illness has also slowed him down quite a bit.

Ensuring the couple has endured another night， Xu begins to prepare breakfast scheduled at 8：00 a.m.

Another day in the old house begins.

Statistics show that by the end of 2011， the aged population of China reached 185 million， 14 percent of the nations total.

“Who will care for the elderly？” has become a worry throughout the nation.

Only Viable Option

Before Xu arrived at the house， HeYing， the couples youngest daughter，had hired around 50 consecutive domestic helpers for her parents. Actually， she was hesitant to hand over the old couple to outsiders， but she and her sisters were left with no choice. They are busy with their own families and jobs， which makes caring for their parents a difficult task. Because their father remains in comparatively good shape， the major responsibility of a domestic helper involves caring for the old bedridden woman， cooking， and cleaning the house. Aged people who cannot carry out daily activities independently are usually referred to as “bedridden elderly，” or “disabled seniors”， to be more precise.

According to the 2010 China Statistics Bulletin of Aging Development issued by the China National Committee on Aging， by the end of 2010， China had 33 million

disabled seniors， accounting for 19 percent of the nations total aged population. It is estimated that by 2015， the figure will soar to 40 million.

According to the couples experience， most domestic helpers cannot stay in their home for long. The reasons vary： Some complain of too much work， some can hardly stand the couples temper， and some are just consumed by boredom in the old house.

He Ying and her sisters couldnt bear seeing their parents spending their final years in a nursing home， and the couple showed no enthusiasm for such an institute. Besides， most decent nursing homes are found in the suburbs， leaving home-based care as the only viable option. Thus， finding a qualified and responsible domestic helper became an urgent task. However， finding the right person seemed like an impossible mission.

The lack of domestic helpers， especially those specializing in caring for the elderly， is the cruel reality of an aging society like todays China. Last December， He met Xu through a domestic services company. The first impression was not good. Xu wore a leather outfit and high-heeled boots. “She looked like a small business owner，” recalls He. Previously， she had seen too many domestic helpers who didnt want to care for the elderly. The over-dressed woman caused some worry， but He had no other choice. They even didnt talk much. After He promised a monthly salary of 2，400 yuan， including food and accommodation， and a raise if she performed well， Xu moved into the house.

Fewer in the Trade

Soon， He and her family realized Xu was more than ideal. The outspoken woman proved an efficient worker， and demonstrated great care in looking after the couple. One month later， they raised her salary to 2，600 yuan and signed a formal contract.

“I feel like Im living with my own family，” asserts Xu. “When Hes other family members visit， they treat me like one of their own. At important festivals， I even receive monetary gifts usually reserved for family. The sum is not big， but it demonstrates the familys gratitude for my help.”

Xu places equality as her top priority when job hunting. Before coming to the He home， she worked for a household on Beijings Financial Street. “You could tell they were rich just by glancing at the house，”Xu recalls. The household chores werent much， but the straightforward woman from Shanxi Province felt something wasnt right. “It was a big family， but none of them ever spoke to me.” When their family wasnt around， the retired couple spent their time reading and seldom talked to Xu. She quit after a few months.

Xu is one of the younger domestic helpers. “It is hard to find those in their thirties who will do the job，” she reveals.“And girls in their twenties？ No way！ Those in our trade have become fewer and fewer.”

Then who will take care of the elderly？ “I guess there will be more nursing homes.”

“The boss of my company often asks me to help recruit more people，” she continues. “He says that many families with elderly relatives are eager to find domestic helpers. But how can I find qualified people？ ”

In fact， Xu introduced nine women from her hometown to her boss. However， all of them walked out of their jobs one after another， swearing never to take such a job again. Since then， Xu has never encountered someone from her hometown engaged in the trade.

A Job of Conscience

Even Xu herself doesnt know how long she can endure such work.

At present， her parents live in rural areas， and remain in good health. “They can still work in the fields，” notes Xu. “But still， they are seniors. No one can say what will happen in the next few years.”

Xu insists that she will return home one day and care for her own parents.“Maybe after my son grows up and finds a decent job.”

Just like she predicted， more and more nursing homes have emerged in recent years， but for the Chinese public， sending parents to such a place is still not common practice.

From another perspective， while providing domestic help is not considered a decent job， working in a nursing home would be even worse. Xu cringes at the thought of such employment. “There are too many seniors， and you cant take care of all of their needs. Also， some employeesare afraid of catching some disease.”

That may be part of the reason nursing homes can seldom find enough help. Thus， it is understandable that potential customers are not willing to place their loved ones in the hands of an understaffed institute.

Xu considers herself lucky to be embraced by a warm family， which is more attractive than the holiday gifts of a few hundred yuan.

Before Xu arrived at the house， the old woman suffered from bedsores due to her long immobility. The unbearable pain caused by washing these bedsores made her scream and scold domestic helpers and even daughters. After Xu arrived， the situation changed. Every night， before she and He Ying wash the bedsores for the old lady， they would always whisper a few comforting words. “Relax. You will feel less pain after we clean them for you.” Gradually， the womans demeanor improved and her bedsores healed.

“To both offspring and outside domestic helpers， taking care of the elderly is a job of conscience，” opines Xu.

“Seeking Nearby Nursing Home”

As the expiration of Xus contract nears， He has already decided to ask her to stay another year and raise her salary to at least 3，000 yuan a month.

For the past 12 months， Xu has been part of the family.

She records the familys daily expenditures， cleans every corner of the house， and occasionally serves as the couples“interpreter” when guests cant understand them.

Compared with families of limited income， this couple is lucky. Their financial condition is good enough to hire a domestic helper. Every month， a doctor comes to the house to change catheters and bandage the old ladys sores， charging 20 yuan each time.

But still， the He family worries. If Xu quits， finding another domestic helper so ideal would seem impossible.

He often dreams of a nursing home being built near her home. If that was the case， her parents may not reject the idea of moving there. Other family members could visit them often and they could easily meet and talk with their old friends who live nearby.

This dream may become reality.

Now， the community where the old couple resides plans to utilize two vacant buildings and is asking for suggestions from residents. Many have recommended building a nursing home.

The next step of development could allow seniors to spend their twilight years in a special community. Increasing numbers of residential communities have begun building activity rooms for the elderly. Doctors have begun doing more house calls for seniors， and trained social workers to provide better services.

If spending ones twilight in a planned community becomes convenient， He Ying， who has never imagined spending her final years anywhere but home， says she could“change her mind.”

“To everyone， the last days will come.” He now often ponders this sentence. Since she only has one child， she even wonders how she will spend her own last years.