Authorities called on residents to do more for the city's
elderly as a downtown music club threw open its doors to a group of
fun-loving senior citizens.
On Tuesday, the Lotto club, on Yuyao Road, welcomed 10 seniors
with an average age of 80 to its VIP area.
Wang Sailin (center), 87, and Wang Miaosi
(right), 77, celebrate at a club. The club invited them and eight
others from a seniors home in response to a city call to lend
support to the elderly.
The club's management decided to throw the party in response to
calls from the local government, who encouraged more people to look
out for one of the city's most vulnerable groups.
"I am too old to go out now," said 87-year-old Wang Sailin,
laughing as she bit into a piece of celebratory cake. "I'm so happy
about the lovely event. We are so grateful."
The party came as a surprise to other customers in the club, but
everyone soon joined in singing as staff wheeled in a candle-laden
cake.
"Not only the old people, but I myself, was excited to be
invited to the party," said Bai Rong, director of the Pudong
seniors home. "We have never been to such a place before.
"About 90 percent of the 170 old people living in our facility
need 24-hour nursing, spending most of their time in bed. Many of
them suffer from Alzeimer's disease," said Bai.
The Shanghai Office to Promote Spiritual and Ethical Progress
bridged the senior's home and the club for the event.
"We have about 50,000 to 60,000 volunteers in the city who spend
their spare time with the seniors in old people's homes, chatting
with them or singing and doing cleaning for them," said Zhou Min, a
coordinator with the office. "We still need more people to look
after lonely seniors."
The city faces an aging problem now and in the near future.
There were 2.66 million people aged 60 or above, accounting for
19.58 percent of the population, in December 2005. That figure is
expected to rise to 33 percent in 2020, officials said. The report
also said the one-child policy would put pressure on the city's
youth, who will be expected to look after elderly relatives.
(Shanghai Daily November 23, 2006)
