A bright future for China's silver generation

On a cool, rainy afternoon in Dafeng Village of Wuzhi County, despite the continuous pitter-patter, laughter could be heard from a courtyard packed with old people enjoying a piece of traditional Yu Opera.

The piece was performed by a volunteer, one of many who work in the village's senior care system. A number of such courtyards in rural Henan Province are answering the call for more social support in the care of China's old people.

"We've been here for about four months now," said Xu Chunqi, head of the charity courtyard. "We want to make sure that everyone receives good care and lives happily."

PREMIER LI'S VISION

Most elderly care institutions in China are run by local governments, but change is now the order of the day. In August 2013, Premier Li Keqiang spoke of how charities and businesses could participate in China's elderly care and in Henan, Li's vision is gradually taking shape.

Apart from looking after their quotidian needs, Xu organizes birthday parties, shows, excursions and massage for his charges, helped by donations from local people of money and groceries, mostly vegetables as courtyard residents are strictly vegetarian.

One of the characteristics of his courtyard is that it is the old people themselves who are in charge and traditional Chinese culture plays a big part. Banners and posters around the village preach filial piety in the form of poems, aphorisms and couplets.

"Relations between villagers and their relatives have improved since the yard opened," said Miao Zhenxuan, 81, who lives in the courtyard. "I'm really happy here, and the vegetarian lifestyle makes me feel stronger."

These charity yards are not the whole story in the county. Wuzhi Elderly Care Center was funded by Wang Xiaoming, a local entrepreneur who spent over 70 million yuan (10.5 million U.S. dollars) on the business in 2014. The center opened in 2015 and quickly attracted many fans. The center's bright and well organized reading room with an abundant collection of books has become a favorite haunt for local old people.

Zhao Qingxin, 76, is one of the regulars. "I come here twice a day," he said, without raising his eyes from the book he was reading. "When I'm here I feel rich, and very much at home."

"This is what's cool about running an institution like this," said Wang. "We're more in touch with people's needs, and more flexible in what we can provide. We value the spiritual fulfillment of our customers."

His thoughts are shared by Lee Chen Changyan, CEO of Ourliving Seniors Care Management.

"We do what we believe is best for our business here," said Lee, who, after 16 years in the business in Taiwan, runs a center in the provincial capital Zhengzhou.

"We go out and about to absorb new ideas, and that's our advantage," he explained.

WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE

The new mode of the care industry is not without its critics who claim the government can still do more.

"Sometimes it can take too long to get permission from the government," Wang admitted. "The procedures are unnecessarily long and complicated at times."

Lee agrees. "The government offered us a lot of financial support, but it could be more efficient. We are often hindered in improving our facilities by cumbersome procedures," he said.

There are well over 2OO million over-60s in China today, around the total combined populations of Germany, France and Great Britain, and the number will at least double in the next twenty years. There are roughly 50,000 elderly service institutions nationwide and around 300,000 specialist geriatric nurses, nowhere near enough to meet demand. In rural areas, the problem is even more acute.

"Personnel training needs to improve," Lee said. "If policy, training and facilities can be better combined, things will improve dramatically."

Practitioners are optimistic. Xu Chunqi, a professional, and his team of volunteers bring not only innovative ideas to the sector, but also a workforce which the county needs.

"We are professionals. The industry will definitely be better with us playing a bigger part, especially in rural areas." Xu claimed.

Wang Xiaoming, the entrepreneur, has faith in policy. "The government backs our participation. This is already a foundation for a better future.

"As long as the opportunities keep coming, more investors and more practitioners will join us and our industry, along with our elderly people, will prosper."