China's first care home for seriously disabled people who have been looked after by elderly parents has opened in Pudong New Area in Shanghai.

People holding serious disabled certificates, who have parents aged 74 or older, or those with no family can apply to stay at the rest home, said the Pudong branch of the Shanghai Disabled People Federation on Sunday.

"We have more than 5,000 seriously disabled people who cannot work in the district. Among them, more than 900 have senior parents or have no one to take care of them," Gao Xuebing, director of the branch, said.

The rest home, which is in Airport Town, occupies two hectares and contains 220 beds, among which 64 are for people who need 24-hour nursing, said Gao.

The Pudong government has invested 55 million yuan (US$7.25 million) for construction of the rest home, according to the federation.

At present, people needing round-the-clock nursing in the rest home will pay 1,100 yuan a month, while the rest will pay 950 yuan. The area government will give 400 yuan (US$52) subsidies each month to patients.

(Shanghai Daily August 28, 2007)