Youth shaping the future of elderly care

In recent years, an increasing number of young people have joined the elderly care industry, including 23-year-old He Fuqu, the director of a nursing home in Wuhan, the capital of Central China's Hubei province.

Born in 2001, He graduated from Wuhan Social Work Polytechnic with a degree in elderly services. She began her career at 19 as an intern caregiver and assistant manager.

In March 2023, she joined her current company and quickly advanced to become the youngest director at one of its nursing home branches.

"Most of the managers at our nursing home are quite young, with the oldest being under 30," He said, explaining that the institution focuses on creating a vibrant and elderly-friendly environment.

And it works. He has observed that the young management team has brought positive changes to the industry. While traditional nursing homes, where she previously interned, primarily focused on providing basic care and essential services, her current institution goes further. The young team not only ensures that residents' basic needs are met but also prioritizes their mental and emotional well-being.

"The elderly really enjoy spending time with us," she said. "We actively engage with them to bring joy and energy."

Alongside daily activities like singing and crafting, He organizes special events such as afternoon teas and games for the elderly. For example, during this year's winter solstice, she and her colleagues made dumplings with the residents, a traditional celebration for the occasion.

He's nursing home currently cares for 25 elderly residents, most of whom cannot live independently. This requires extra patience from He and her team.

"These elders may not be good at expressing it or may feel shy, but they also long for more interaction and emotional connection," she said.

He's lively personality helps her easily connect with the residents, earning their trust and affection.

For example, during the last Chinese New Year, He had to stay at the nursing home for work and couldn't go home, marking her first time away from her family for the holiday. One elderly woman gave her a red envelope and a bag of candy, despite her polite refusal.

"She insisted, saying that to them, I'm still like a child and I should receive good luck from the elderly," He said.

She has also realized that sincerity is key when communicating with the elderly.

"I don't just show them my best side," she explained. "I try to be real with them so they can sense my honesty."

In addition to building relationships with the residents, He offers practical suggestions to improve the nursing home's management. She revised the nursing care level chart to better match the services provided.

"This adjustment helps meet the residents' needs more effectively and facilitates clearer communication with their families," she explained.

Changing landscape

He also noticed how the elderly care industry has evolved over time.

She recalled that during her college years, the program mainly focused on two years of theoretical learning, with internships beginning in the third year.

This often created a gap between textbook knowledge and real-world application, causing some classmates to switch careers and resulting in a loss of talent in the field.

Today, the program she studied has been updated to "Smart Elderly Care Services and Management" to reflect the growing integration of technology in the industry.

The new curriculum combines theoretical instruction with internships, giving students a more comprehensive understanding of industry developments.

He mentioned that Wuhan boasts many government-supported smart senior care service labs.

"At our nursing home, for example, we use a smart sleep monitoring device, just like the smartwatches that young people wear. It's placed under the bed to track the sleep patterns of elderly residents," He explained.

Working in a nursing home, He has faced the realities of aging and death at a much younger age than most people in their 20s. At first, she would tremble when calling for an ambulance during emergencies, but now, she has learned to stay calm.

"Aging and death are natural parts of life. We just need to learn to handle them with more acceptance," she said.

Contact the writers at mengwenjie@i21st.cn