According to Hong Kong’s South China Morning Post (SCMP), 25-year-old Zhang Jin is volunteering in a nursing facility with the elderly.
After graduating from university two years ago, he moved to Suzhou, Jiangsu Province, to find a job, and while looking for a place to live, he checked the facility’s recruitment announcement for “resident volunteers.” The room was offered at 200-300 yuan per month, significantly lower than the market price, on the condition that activities to help the elderly. Additionally, the conditions for application were those under the age of 35, regular workers, and those who did not own local housing.
Jang-jin, who became one of the final five selected out of more than 40 applicants, works at a workplace about 30 minutes away from a nursing home on weekdays and helps seniors with dance classes and leisure activities on weekends. In particular, he is paired with an 89-year-old man and talks every evening after work.
“It feels like home,” he said. “It gives me emotional stability rather than hard work and service together. It is also a great advantage to be able to relieve loneliness in unfamiliar cities.”
Such a policy of allowing young people to live in nursing homes together is drawing attention as a new community model in an aging society. Local netizens are saying that it is a way that fits well with young people who enjoy interaction with people and that it is a meaningful idea to increase communication between generations.
JULIE KIM
US ASIA JOURNAL
