Birthday celebration for local centenarians
Five centenarians at Kuaile Zhijia (Happy Family), a senior care home in downtown Huangpu District, celebrate their birthdays.
A group birthday ceremony was held for five centenarians at Kuaile Zhijia (Happy Family), a senior care home in downtown Huangpu District on Friday.
The seniors ate changshoumian (birthday noodle), a birthday tradition in China meant to involve longevity, with their children and nursing staff.
Happy Family has the largest number of centenarians among senior homes in Shanghai.
Zhang Yuying, 103, is the oldest resident at the home. Although her hearing has faded, she is still capable of looking after herself and has many acquaintances at the home.
"I am very happy living here, and I am looked after well," she said. Zhang has been living at Happy Family for two years.
"My mother likes playing mahjong, but we limit her to playing twice a week, each time one hour, to avoid her getting emotional," said her daughter Zhang Renhua, 66 years old. "She is a good mahjong player and she discards tiles very quickly, more quickly than most seniors much younger than her."
Zhang has six children and was a shop assistant in the past.
Lu Jinzhen, 102, a former cotton spinner, has been living at Happy Family for more than three years. She was among the home's first residents.
Her son lives nearby and visits her daily.
"She likes DIY activities such as making shoes, and is happy to participate in activities organized here such as singing and exercise," said 68-year-old Cheng Shibiao, her son.
Hou Xiuzhen, 100, has lived at the senior home since she was 97. Her 71-year-old son visits her twice a day.
Last year, Hou tumbled and had three ribs broken.
Doctors said she would be bed-ridden for three months, but she recovered after one month under the care of nursing staff and family members.
Doctors from the Xuhui District Central Hospital visit the senior home regularly to provide medical services.
Happy Family has 102 seniors with an average age of 88.8 years old. They participate in a variety of activities such as painting, reading books, paper cutting and opera singing.
"We not only take care of their lives, but also their psychological state," said Yan Minfang, director of the senior home.
"We have designed a variety of activities for them based on their interests, and they can pick their favorite foods for each meal," she said. "We try our best to make them happy living here."
