21 years after "crowdfunding" to buy a house and hold a group for the elderly...
A group of elderly people in Shanghai donated a building! What is the picture?
Our reporter Wu Zhendong and Pan Xu
Recently, Pu Yimin, a 93-year-old Shanghai elder and her old partners, realized a wish-to donate the small building that was once "crowdfunded" and used as a mutual-aid nursing home to the village committee, so that it can continue to serve the village. Elderly service. "I heard that this place will be converted into a senior activity room, and lunch will be provided. I am very happy that it can continue to shine and heat." Pu Yimin said.
5 yuan, 10 yuan, 100 yuan, 3000 yuan... 21 years ago, the old people negotiated and bought a vacant second-story building in Gelong Village, Waigang Town, Jiading District, Shanghai. The small building, named "Cizhou Nursing Home", is intended to help each other in the elderly and help each other in the same boat. Elderly people in Shili Baxiang like this way of old-age care. At most, 22 people lived in the building at the same time. Everyone helped each other in harmony and harmony, enjoying the "infinitely good" sunset time.
In recent years, some elderly people have passed away and some have to be admitted to nursing homes with better medical conditions. The main reason for the declining number of occupants is the gradual improvement of services for the elderly at the door of the house, and the elderly have more places to go.
At the end of the song, people are scattered, and stories are spread. The repainted old buildings are ushering in new vitality.
"Crowdfunding" to buy a house
Pu Yimin in front of him was thin, but vigorous, with neatly groomed silver hair, and a gentle smile on his face.
In his 20s, Pu Yimin, a native of Jiangyin, came to Shanghai to earn a living. Before retiring, he was a doctor in a primary hospital. The benevolent doctor, she has maintained the habit of being a vegetarian for decades, and has also met many like-minded people. Everyone often gathers together.
"Since it makes sense, it's better to live together for the aged." The suggestion that seems to be a joke, in fact, many people remember it. Some elderly people feel that they are vegetarian, which is not in line with the tastes of their family members; some elderly people want to vacate their small houses for the young couple to live in; more people are because their children are busy and are unaccompanied at home... …
"It would be nice to live together." Pu Yimin thought so too.
One day in 1998, an old partner brought news that the rural credit cooperative at No. 132, Gelong Village, Waigang Town, Jiading District was about to relocate, and the two-story building was vacated. "Can you just buy this building?" Everyone suggested asking Pu Yimin, the most educated person, to talk about it with the other party.
It is said that the old people buy houses for the elderly. The rural credit cooperatives understand it very well and the "negotiations" proceed smoothly. In January 1999, the two parties signed an agreement for a small building with a total area of about 200 square meters and a construction cost of more than 60,000 yuan, including depreciation, and finally transferred the use right to the elderly at a price of 50,000 yuan.
The news spread, and everyone was enthusiastic, 5 yuan, 10 yuan, 100 yuan, and the largest sum of more than 3000 yuan... The reporter saw on the account book that more than 230 people participated in the "crowdfunding". "Many old friends actually don't have a need to move in, just to show love and help us realize this wish." said Chen Jifen, an elderly resident.
The small building was bought, and soon one after another occupants were welcomed, and a period of "mutual assistance for the elderly" began. With good wishes, the old people named the Xiaolou "Cizhou Nursing Home".
"Bao Tuan" pension
The wooden floor covers the original concrete floor; the stairs are equipped with handrails, and the bathroom has been adapted for aging; fitness equipment, televisions, and video recorders are all available... In the old photos, the living conditions of the "cizhou nursing home" are no better than those outside. difference.
But this is not a real nursing home after all. There is no dean, no nurse, no cook. Everything depends on the old people themselves-you help me, I help you. For this reason, there are also requirements for living in a small building: you must be able to take care of yourself, be a vegetarian, and pay 100 yuan per month for utilities.
Chen Jifen recalled that at most 22 elderly people lived in the small building at the same time. Although there were many people, they got along well and hardly had any quarrels. "We take turns to cook; public areas also take turns to clean, just like elementary school students are on duty; some people are unwell, everyone will take care of them together. There is also a vegetable field at the door, with cucumbers, tomatoes, eggplants, loofah and many other vegetables. If you don’t have one, you will go to the village to buy it together. In addition, your children will also send some."
Zhang Qin, the daughter of Xu Fengying, who lives in the elderly, often brings vegetables or necessities to visit the elderly and helps with housework. "Mom likes it here, saying that the old people here don't care about it and have a very comfortable life. We took her back when she was sick, and clamored to come back when she recovered."
Recalling the past, Pu Yimin thanked the villagers and caring people of Gelong Village for their help. "Most of us came from outside villages or even outside areas, but the villagers did not treat us as outsiders. When the fruits and vegetables were cooked, they would give us some food. The young people would help us carry heavy objects such as rice, noodles and firewood. We also encountered one The boss in the curtain business helped the Xiaolou renovate the windows at his own expense. We all remember these good deeds."
The villagers respect the elderly, and the elderly also give back to the village and gain a respect from it. Pu Yimin started his career and went to the village’s pharmacist’s temple every week to take blood pressure, acupuncture and check some minor problems for the villagers for free; the children in the village also liked to play with the old people, and the small building became their temporary after school. Care classes"……
Regain vitality
No one can rival the growth of the years and the onset of disease. Over the past decade or so, the "little old people" have gradually become older, some of them have passed away, and some have suffered from illnesses or their ability to take care of themselves deteriorated, and they have to be transferred to nursing homes with better conditions. At the same time, there are more nursing homes "in front of the house", and the conditions for the elderly care at home are getting better year by year. If no new old people come to contact Pu Yimin, Xiaolou will have to "retire".
In the summer of 2015, the elderly Xu Fengying fell down again. Zhang Qin was really worried to let his mother return to the small building and chose to live in an elderly rehabilitation center. The removal of Mr. Xu put an end to the time of "holding a group" for the elderly. In 2017, after living alone in Xiaolou for two years, Pu Yimin also left due to physical reasons and moved to Shanghai Jiading Shuangshan Nursing Home.
What should I do with this building? Pu Yimin believes that at that time, many people bought the small building together. It does not belong to any one person and should not be owned by individuals in the future. "Think about it carefully, you can only donate it to the collective, let it serve the common people, and play a greater value."
The 200-square-meter small building has exceeded 5 million yuan at the current market price in Shanghai, but just like buying a building back then, Pu Yimin’s proposal to donate the building was unanimously agreed by his old partners or his family.
"We are very supportive of the elderly's decision. Over the years, they have made donations to the earthquake-stricken areas, left-behind children, and the needy families around them. The house is something they can't take away. They will definitely leave it to those in need." Zhang Qin Say.
In June this year, Chen Xuefeng, secretary of the general party branch of Gelong Village and director of the village committee, solemnly accepted housing donations from the elderly on behalf of Gelong Village. When everyone took a group photo in front of the small building, Pu Yimin said to Chen Xuefeng: “Take it from the people, and use it for the people. We must let this building continue to serve the villagers. This is our last gratitude to Gelong Village. ."
At present, there are more than 500 elderly people over 60 who live in Gelong Village. There is a day care center in the whole village. Chen Xuefeng said that Gelong Village is carrying out the construction of a beautiful village, and the village is initially considering transforming this building into an activity place for the elderly with food services. At the same time, a room will be restored to the old people's mutual assistance for the elderly, as a small exhibition hall, leaving warm memories and remembering the old people's good deeds.
Shanghai is one of the most aging cities in the country. As of December 31, 2019, there were 5,181,200 elderly people aged 60 and over in the city, accounting for 35.2% of the total registered population. In recent years, Shanghai has made efforts to promote the full and balanced development of elderly care services in rural areas, and put forward a number of specific goals such as "by 2020, every street and town in the rural area will have at least one standardized nursing home, and village groups in pure agricultural areas will achieve full coverage of good neighbors". , And strengthen the assessment mechanism to ensure the completion of the task.
"Everyone hopes that the elderly will not leave their hometowns and their hometowns. Fortunately, nursing homes and neighbourhoods are not far away from home, and caregivers can also be called to provide services. Then there will be fewer people who choose to'huddle' for the elderly like before." Chen Jifen said.
However, the practice of "holding group" for the aged has brought many thoughts to the grassroots cadres. Li Xue, secretary of the Party Committee of Waigang Town, said that the very important reason why Pu Lao and them have a strong sense of happiness is that they feel respected and needed in the process of mutual help among neighbors. "After the hardware is upgraded, rural elderly care needs to work harder to enrich the spiritual and cultural life of the elderly and bring them a higher quality of life in their later years."