While I was in Madam Li's (the head of a senior home) office, I heard the elderly clients singing from another room. "Today, I bless you. May the Lord watch over you always. Whether you are at home or outside, whether you come or go, may the Lord protect you along the way."
Madam Li sat by her desk, answering and making phone calls on the daily affairs of the home. She has short, curly hair and is wearing a silk scarf around her neck. She has rosy cheeks and makes broad smiles. She looks spirited and energetic. One would never guess she is already over sixty.
Over the course of her sixty-plus years of life, she has dedicated nearly twenty years to the senior home.
Her original idea was to care for the parents of aged church workers who have to both serve the church and take care of their aging parents. Madam Li explained that her mother-in-law was nearly 70 at the time. Yet she still had to care for her parents while serving her church. That sparked the idea of creating a senior home, and she began praying about it.
God used the healing experience of Madam Li's aunt, who had eye cancer, to propel the founding of the senior home. At the time, her aunt was diagnosed with eye cancer and needed surgery costing over 300,000 yuan. However, through a series of circumstances, her aunt decided not to have the operation. Instead, Madam Li prayed with her and coordinated minor treatments at the hospital. In the end, her aunt was healed. The money which was originally intended for surgery was used to build the home, and some equipment was purchased.
However, it did not go as smoothly as expected. At the start, the senior home faced opposition from some church workers who believed that as an elder (Madam Li had served as a church elder delivering sermons), she should be doing God's work, not "wasting time" caring for people nearing the end of life. However, she stood firm, saying, "I can express my faith through my actions and bear witness to it, which I believe is truly meaningful and necessary." Thus, the senior home was established and has continued ever since.
In the beginning, the senior home offered free care for the parents of aged church workers. Then, the workers felt guilty for not paying. So, they insisted on paying for the services. That was when the home started charging fees at a modest amount.
As the services demanded, they hired caregivers who were originally migrant believers working far from home. They were willing to accept low wages to serve the elderly out of Christian love. They also received professional training. During summer, they gave baths to the seniors every day or cleaned the bodies of those who could not be bathed. Mopping and laundry were also done according to the seniors' needs.
Over a decade, Madam Li realized through experience that, for elderly people, emotional well-being is more important than food and drink.
She explained that sometimes, elderly people fall ill because of anger, depression, or emotional distress, which affects their appetite and leads to physical decline. The senior home helps the elderly build a healthy daily routine. They sing hymns together, exchange words with one another, and there are assigned staff to chat with. Without feeling lonely, they feel better, regain their appetite, and better absorb nutrition. Consequently, their body temperature stays stable, and even their physical appearance looks better. In such conditions, many ailments can heal on their own.
"In elderly care, communication is key," she emphasized. For instance, if a senior misses their children, and the staff takes time to explain and promises to call the children, the senior will quietly wait all morning. Otherwise, the senior may continue nagging if the request is ignored.
Elderly care is no easy job. Some clients may complain that the porridge is either too thick or too watery. Others dislike plain boiled eggs for lacking salt or oil and might even throw them away.
Faced with diverse needs, Madam Li said they cannot meet everyone's preferences, but they try to cater to the majority's needs and always serve with a clear conscience.
Sometimes, a senior forgets that they have already eaten breakfast and asks for more food, so the staff will simply say they are going to get it and then bring it over at lunchtime. Other times, some seniors envy those whose children give them money and falsely accuse those who receive money of stealing. The staff often advance their own money to the accusers and later explain the situation to their children.
Despite the challenges, the home earns a strong reputation. Families and relatives of the clients often express admiration, acknowledging that their loved ones are living better than in their own homes.
Madam Li has had heart problems since childhood, and her parents were Christians. When she had heart attacks, praying would help. When she stopped praying, the problem would recur. This led her to the Christian faith. Because of her condition, doctors warned her against heavy labor, catching a cold, emotional distress, and, most seriously, giving birth. But by God's grace, she gave birth to four children who have grown up. Now she has grandchildren.
Unlike many grandparents, though, Madam Li rarely helps care for her grandchildren because most of her time is devoted to the senior home.
She admitted that caring for the elderly is a high-risk job because people in their 60s and 70s often face declining health or are even nearing death. Without love, it is hard to persist, but God has continually protected the senior home. She shared that during the pandemic, while many elderly people passed away elsewhere, not a single death occurred in the home. During a serious influenza outbreak, not one person was infected.
Although other local nursing homes are more advanced in terms of equipment, Madam Li proudly said, "But we have our own unique strength: we fulfill the love of Christ and care for our elderly with our hearts."
Originally published by the Christian Times
- Edited by Karen Luo and translated by Charlie Li
