Visits made to the elderly lacking support and companionship

We were so emotional to see the elderly lacking support and companionship on our visit to Binh Duong provincial Center for Social Sponsorship and Work under Binh Duong provincial Department of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs located in An Thanh ward of Thuan An city.

Duong Thi Xuong is dressing hair for an elderly at the Center

The elderly encouragement

The noon boiling sun of June seemed to cool off at Binh Duong provincial Center for Social Sponsorship and Work under Binh Duong provincial Department of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs located in An Thanh ward of Thuan An city thanks to a vaporizing system. The place accommodates nearly 200 elderly and homeless people. Many were out in the yard and corridors of tree canopies with eyes wandering elsewhere talking.

Hua Thi Thu Tam, Head of the Center's Urgent and Long-term Care Division, took us to each nursing area for taking care of the lonely elderly to better understand the life in the shared accommodation. Sitting with a group of elderly friends in the rocking chair in the yard, Tran Thi Chinh said that she has lived in the center for 19 years to 74 years old this year. She was a resident in Tan An ward of Thu Dau Mot city, and was sent to the center by the locality because there was no one to take care of her.

Many others of over 90 years have been living under the Center for more than 20 years. Nguyen Thi Hien is now 90 as her vision blurs, she cannot see clearly and has to be accompanied by someone to walk around, but she still tries to eat, drink and clean herself. Anyway, the elderly who are still able to walk are somewhat comforted compared to the elderly who are paralyzed and lying in one place. The elderly cannot eat and drink on their own, so they have to rely on the nurses to take care of everything.

There is also a voluntary elderly care area in addition to the beneficiaries of social protection benefits. The elderly choose to live in the center to facilitate the activities of the elderly and have friends.

Where love anchors

“Here, we are enthusiastically taken care of by the staffs, officials and employees of the center. When we are sick, the staffs kindly visit and encourage us. Every day, the staffs take care of us in meals, medicines, and regular visits," said the elderly on talking to us. “At the center, each person has a different situation and age, but everyone considers each other like family. Younger, stronger people are willing to support and help the weaker. Having people prepare meals, wash dishes, and then help on vacation, which helps us a bit," said Thu Tam.

It should be mentioned that the cadres, staffs, and assistants are really working hard, especially when taking care of the elderly or sick people who cannot take care of themselves. Sometimes you even have to be a barber. On talking to us, Duong Thi Xuong, a native of Nha Trang, now working as a nurse at the center, is dressing an old woman's hair; she said: "It takes heart and hard work to follow the profession. It is necessary to understand the elderly to take care of them carefully without negligence.”

Being able to come to the Center to observe and talk with the elderly and the staffs, we are really touched by the humane love. Perhaps they also need the love of more people for them, so that smiles will always be on their faces, especially on Vietnamese Family Day of June 28 when family values are recognized, honored, and reminded.

Reported by Quynh Nhu – Translated by Vi Bao