Onus on govt to provide better care services to senior villagers

THE MANAGERS OF A NURSING HOME in Tancheng in East China's Shandong province reportedly refused to allow the elderly residents to use the air conditioners as heaters despite the severe cold. The State needs to provide more help to elderly residents in rural areas, says a Beijing News editorial:

Many online comments are blaming the nursing home and its managers for failing in their duty of care. However they do not know how difficult it is for grassroots nursing homes to provide the comforts and support aged people need.

In rural regions that are not so prosperous, local governments only cover part of the financial cost of nursing homes, which have to earn money to make up the deficit. In addition, only those seniors from less well-off families choose to enter nursing homes; as a result, it is quite common for the majority of rural nursing homes to struggle with financial difficulties.