The Challenges of Home Care:
Initially, her oldest son in UK supoorted her finanically, and her retired son and daughter took turns living with her to keep her company. Eventually, the physical demand became too much, and they hired a live-in aide for chores and overnight care. This allowed the children to visit frequently without becoming exhausted. However, my aunt was never quite happy with the arrangement, leading to a frequent rotation of aides.
While she preferred living in her children's homes, both houses had stairs that were difficult for her to navigate, and her children weren't in a position to move into her condo full-time.
The Turning Point:
The situation changed beautifully when her only grandson got married. The couple, both in their 30s, had been dating for years but were delayed by the pandemic. Overjoyed by the news, my aunt agreed to move into a nursing home and gifted her condo to the newlyweds.
Benefits of the New Arrangement
The move has been a success both socially and financially:
Social & Physical Health: She is much happier now. She plays mahjong and participates in social activities. To stay mobile, an aide takes her downstairs every day for 1.5 hours of walking and exercise, which costs 75 yuan.
Cost Efficiency: * At Home: She was paying over 9,000 yuan/month (6,000 for the aide + 3,000 for food).
At the Facility: With government assistance, she pays only about 4,000 yuan/month.
Family Connection: The facility sends daily video updates, and her son and daughter still take turns visiting her regularly.
A Heartwarming Update
I recently had a video chat with her, and she looked very happy. It’s clear she is far more content having a community and structured activities than she ever was staying at home with an aide alone.
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