Shanghai elderly-care centers reopen as restrictions ease
Seniors play games at the Hengyu Caojiadu Senior Home on Wednesday.
Seniors enjoy themselves at the Hengyu Caojiadu Senior Home.
Wang Zhihua, 83, was among the first visitors to the Bund Subdistrict Comprehensive Senior Service Center in Huangpu District when it reopened last month. She was happy to meet with old friends after several months' absence.
Shanghai's civil affairs authorities have further relaxed restrictions governing visits to senior homes and other relevant measures after the city lowered its emergency response to the novel coronavirus pandemic over the weekend.
Community-based senior service facilities should open as soon as possible, the Shanghai Civil Affairs Bureau now orders.
Comprehensive senior service centers, day-care centers and community activity centers for the elderly should open, but operators must control visitor numbers and avoid activities that involve gatherings and close contact, such as lectures, dancing, playing cards and mahjong, according to the bureau.
Covering 805 square meters, the Bund Subdistrict center in Huangpu provides nursing, rehabilitation, meal and bathing services and psychological counseling for the elderly.
The center closed after the Spring Festival holiday due to the COVID-19 outbreak and reopened on April 9.
"I came here immediately after it reopened because I missed my old friends here," said Wang.
Except for the pandemic period, she's been visiting the center daily from Monday to Friday since over a year ago.
"I was excited because staying at home is boring, and I was happy to chat with my old friends again," she said.
Most seniors visiting the center live alone at home.
"We do exercise here together in the morning, chat and then the meal is ready at noon. In the afternoon, we have a nap, enjoy snacks and play games together," said Wang.
An elderly man has his temperature checked at the Bund Subdistrict Comprehensive Senior Service.
About 41 percent of residents in the Bund Subdistrict are seniors and the center reaches about 8,000 elderly people per year, with meal delivery services included.
These days, the center receives between six and eight seniors every day, with maximum capacity set at 11, said Gao Wenjun, director of the senior service department of the Bund Subdistrict.
Xie Wenya, 84, is a performer. Living near the center, she visits it every other day.
"I like performing Yueju Opera for seniors here, and we do DIY and sing together," she said.
"Time passes quickly here because a lot of fun activities are arranged," said Wei Baohua, in his 70s.
"We have increased the frequency of disinfection to three times daily, up from twice, and twice-daily temperature checks are mandatory here for visiting seniors," said Wu Fangfang, a nursing worker at the center.
"We have restarted bathing and meal services, while group activities are still banned for safety concerns," said director Gao.
"Reservation is required for all coming seniors, and strangers are not allowed admission," she said.
"We require visitors to present their health QR code, make registration and report whether they have left Shanghai recently, and there is a tracking system once problems emerge," Gao said.
Li Zunshu, 95, is the oldest at the center.
"I am happy here. My peers here and I have a lot of common interests," she said with a smile.
The center also receives the elderly with cognitive disorders.
An elderly woman play darting at the Hengyu Caojiadu Senior Home.
Games are arranged at the Hengyu Caojiadu Senior Home.
Relatives of residents in the city's senior homes are allowed to visit family in designated areas after making arrangements with senior-care agencies, the Shanghai Civil Affairs Bureau announced last Friday.
Visitors are required to wear masks and present their health QR codes.
However, anyone in contact with people arriving from overseas in the previous 15 days, who has been in close contact with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 cases, has symptoms such as a fever, a cough and diarrhea, who is an asymptomatic COVID-19 patient or has been in close contact with such patients is barred from entry, the bureau said.
Senior home operators have been ordered to work out routes for visitors and should disperse visitors during visits, the bureau said.
Visitors should keep a safe distance and follow designated routes to prevent gatherings and unnecessary contact.
Visitors are allowed into living areas if the resident has physical disabilities, but disinfection and other prevention measures should be in place, the bureau said.
The Hengyu Caojiadu Senior Home in Jing'an District integrates medical treatment with cooperation from hospitals such as the Jing'an branch of Huashan Hospital and Jing'an Central Hospital.
Its 499 beds are fully occupied.
It has several rehabilitation areas for treatment with traditional Chinese and Western medicines.
"We banned all entry of relatives due to COVID-19 for some time but the restrictions have been totally lifted," said Wu Yun, executive director of the senior home.
"We receive visiting relatives every day now and they are allowed into public areas for visits, though a reservation is needed," said Wu.
"In addition, seniors will not be put under quarantine after they visit hospitals, which was compulsory before last Saturday," said Wu. "But they still need to be under medical observation."
The majority of group activities have resumed at the senior home, but the elderly are reminded to keep safe distance during activities, said Wu.
Classes for singing, art and weaving have not resumed but are expected to restart in June, said Gao.
"We also require our nursing staff who left Shanghai recently to undergo 14-day quarantine before resuming work because seniors are particularly vulnerable to the new virus," she said.
Hou Ping, daughter of 89-year-old Yang Yu, a resident at the senior home, stopped visiting her mother for months because of COVID-19.
Since restrictions were lifted, Hou has visited her mother three times.
"We are happy for a 'reunion'," she said.
Residents and staff who left Shanghai during the pandemic are required to present test reports showing they are negative for COVID-19 one day before their return or undergo 14-day quarantine before they are allowed into senior homes, the civil affairs bureau said on Friday.
Those who have visited hospitals due to common illnesses can return to senior homes without quarantine, but prevention and medical observation should be enhanced, according to the bureau.
Hou Ping (right) visits her mother at Hengyu Caojiadu Senior Home.
Seniors do some reading at the Bund Sub-district Comprehensive Senior Service Center.
