Brick 4 - Yining Home
Yining Home is caring for 60 residents of whom 10 are looked after for free. The home’s staff have been receiving training in 2007 (with Bricks’ support) and are implementing the training to improve the residents quality of life. The challenge the Sisters face now is to secure the fees of the 10 residents for 2008 (€7,400, ₤5,800, or $11,000) and to expand the services to non residents in the area.
A HOME FROM HOME FOR THE ELDERLY
In China, the elderly have an honoured place. However, two generations of a one child policy are severely straining the resources of the country, and the poor suffer most. Sisters at Yili Home keep ten seniors without means at their home for the elderly, and other Church run homes are being opened exclusively for those who cannot pay. These projects are unsustainable without support, and if they fold, it is the elderly who will suffer.
Yining (often called Yili by the locals) is located on the northern side of the Ili River in the Dzungarian basin, near the border with Kazakhstan, and about 710Km west of Urumqi. The Catholic community is very small, but a community of women there have built a home for the elderly which has attracted the admiration of the local people. In 2006 Bricks formed a relationship with the Yining home which resulted in them receiving sponsorship for their free places in 2007. The link has allowed the staff to experience best practice in the care of the elderly and they have been very enthusiastic in implementing the new learning. Every visit brings new improvements and the dynamic director, is eager to implement even more changes to give her charges an environment which allows them to live out their old age in security and peace.
The elderly who live in Yining have found an environment which is both caring and efficient. The poor who could not normally afford such places have been warmly welcomed. The challenge is however, to broaden the range of services to include more home based care and day care services. Without these additions the love given by church groups will only ever reach the few, in a country where many are in need.
From a recent newspaper report:
A recent survey in Beijing reveals that 12.7% of senior citizens would like to spend the rest of their lives in old-age caring institutions. However, 313 institutions of that kind in the city can only provide an average of 1.52 beds for every 100 senior citizens.
At the end of 2005, there were 2.02 million citizens who were over 60 years old, and the figure is estimated to grow to 3.49 million by 2020, taking up 19.4% of the total population.
Furthermore, senior citizens needs are beyond everyday caring, but include psychology consultation, law consultation, etc as well, thus most current old-age caring institutions will need improvement to meet the requirements of their future customers.
In 2008, Bricks will work with Yining Home to guarantee the existing places for the 10 elderly poor and also to expand the programme to include daycare services. The first Brick remains the need to secure the €740 (₤580, or $1,090) per person per year which will secure the ten free places in 2008. Your donation, no matter how small, will help reach the goal of €7,400 for this Brick. 100% of your donation will be transferred to the Home in Yili. In China the elderly have had a traditionally an honoured place, your donation will show that the Chinese are not alone in a concern for their plight in modern China. Donate now and help add another brick in the Great Wall of Charity in China