Partial recurrence of the epidemic easily causes psychological anxiety in the elderly
"Curtain Agreement" gives the empty-nest elderly a sense of security
[Location] Baizhifang Street, Xicheng District, Beijing
[Event Highlights] The empty-nest elderly use curtains as a "secret" every day to report safety to the community helpers
Once the empty nester becomes ill, the consequences will be disastrous if no one finds it and takes prompt treatment measures.
In addition to community care, regular greetings from children, and home visits, neighborhood watch can be a way out.
In Baizhifang Street, Xicheng District, Beijing, the neighborhood confirmed the safety of the empty-nest elderly through the "secret sign" of "curtain agreement".
What is a "curtain agreement"?
It turned out that the elderly who were assisted used to draw the curtains as a "secret sign" every day to report their safety to the helpers.
Once the curtains are not opened, the helper will rush to the scene as soon as possible, and contact the street, the community, and the families of the helpers at the same time.
Arrange to open the curtains means everything is normal
"Today, the curtains of Teacher Zhao's house are opened normally, which means that everything is normal." At 8 o'clock in the morning on November 12, Zhao Meili, who lives in the community of Caiyuan Street, Baizhifang Street, came to the window of the 80-year-old Zhao Hongyu's house as usual. Next, I found that the old man’s curtains were opened normally, indicating that everything went well.
After eating breakfast, she came to Zhao Hongyu's home to chat with the elderly.
Zhao Hongyu's family lives on the first floor, just across from Zhao Meili's house. Although she lives in the next building, Zhao Meili can pay attention to the general situation of Zhao Hongyu's old man at home, and come to help whenever he encounters problems.
Two years ago, Zhao Hongyu's wife passed away. In order to let the elderly get out of grief, Zhao Meili often invites Zhao Hongyu to participate in community cultural activities, including making handmade tapestries and woodcarving paintings.
With the joint efforts of community volunteers, community workers, and Zhao Hongyu’s family, the elderly gradually improved and began to actively participate in community activities. Everyone felt that the enthusiastic "Mr. Zhao" was back.
"The landline of Xiao Zhao's family is my exclusive hotline." Zhao Hongyu said, "I am old and used to using landlines. If there is anything at home, just call Xiao Zhao and she will come to help me at any time. She feels special. Be steadfast."
Passing "veteran-level" volunteers to enjoy help
About 20 years ago, the enthusiastic Zhao Hongyu began to help the empty-nest old man Sun Huiran.
At that time, Zhao Hongyu mainly helped the old man Sun Huiran run errands to buy things, pass on the new policy, and accompany him to seek medical treatment.
Due to the reinforcement and reconstruction of the old community in the community in 2018, the residents temporarily moved out of the community, and the elderly Sun Huiran who Zhao Hongyu helped live in the nursing home since then.
"Sister Sun and I have been in the old neighbourhood for decades. At that time, she lived upstairs and I lived downstairs. When there was a problem, she knocked on the heating pipe. I heard the sound and went right upstairs to see if I could help. "Yes." Zhao Hongyu said with a smile, "Sister Sun has a special wooden stick to knock on the heating pipe. I use every knock to determine whether she is safe."
Once, when Zhao Hongyu heard several rapid knocks of heating pipes, she ran upstairs immediately and found that Sun Huiran was unwell and vomiting.
Zhao Hongyu immediately called the old man's son and sent the old man to the hospital together.
"Going to the hospital requires someone to run up and down. I will stay with Sister Sun in the hospital to make her feel at ease." Zhao Hongyu said, "The elderly who are in pairs are not only neighbors but also relatives. It was our original intention to rush to and give help at a time."
Now, as Zhao Hongyu gets older, his physical condition is not as good as before, and the "veteran" volunteers have also changed from helping people to help recipients.
The relatively young volunteer Zhao Meili and her formed a new "curtain agreement" pair, which also made the elderly feel at ease.
Upgrade from "one to one" to "many to one"
Zhao Meili is more than 60 years old this year, and her knees are not particularly good. Sometimes when Zhao Hongyu needs help, she can't do her best.
Occasionally, due to volunteers’ physical reasons, they cannot be present in time, and the one-on-one "curtain appointments" also need to be upgraded.
In order to break the bottleneck of the "curtain agreement", the streets and communities have tried every means.
In the No. 1 courtyard of Nancaiyuan, Jiangong Nanli Community, Liu Yingjie and his wife Zhang Xueying, the party members’ husband and wife, assumed the role of the convener of the "curtain agreement".
Similar to other pairs of assistance, Liu Yingjie and his wife mainly focus on the details of the life of the target Han Shuyuan.
Once the elderly have travel, medical, shopping and other needs, the couple will lend a helping hand as soon as possible.
The meticulous care and concern of the neighbors allows the empty-nest elderly to experience the warmth of "empty nest" and not "hollow".
Han Shuyuan often said: "Liu Yingjie and his wife are responsive to me."
However, an accident happened last winter, allowing Liu Yingjie and his wife to realize the limitations of the "curtain agreement".
Liu Yingjie, who has always been in good health, suddenly felt uncomfortable in his eyes.
After going to the hospital for an examination, she learned that surgery was needed, and Zhang Xueying had to devote her mind to caring for her husband.
"Our'curtain agreement' is now one-to-one or two-to-one. Once there is a problem with one end, it is difficult to deploy personnel. If we can change the method, it will be more than one." "Yes, we are not. Are there two groups of volunteers? Just pull a dozen pairs of helpers from our hospital into the group, so that the community can keep track of the situation of each pair at any time, and it can also help the pair who is in trouble to find a substitute "At the branch meeting, Liu Yingjie and his wife put this problem on the table. Everyone discussed it in one word and made suggestions for solving practical problems.
The "many-to-one" proposal was quickly recognized by everyone.
Liu Yingjie and his wife acted immediately and took the initiative to assume the role of the convener of the "Curtain Agreement" in South Garden No. 1 Courtyard.
"There are more than 30 people in the group at once. In addition to a dozen pairs of helping people, there are other party members in the community. Everyone is very proactive and willing to substitute for us." Zhang Xueying said that she and Liu Yingjie were worried at the time. Just put it down.
After discussion in the group, another neighbor, Ms. Chen, temporarily replaced them with the "curtain agreement" with Han Shuyuan, and the volunteers had a loving relay.
Innovate to serve the old volunteers more intimately
The bold attempt of Nancaiyuan No. 1 Yard gave a reminder to Baizhifang Street.
At present, the 19 communities in Baizhifang Street have a total of more than 100 pairs of "curtain agreement". In order to solve this problem, the street is constantly exploring more reasonable and effective management models.
According to the relevant person in charge of Baizhifang Street, in 2017, the street produced the "Curtain Agreement·Fangfang Watch Service Log", which is used to help staff record the daily assistance situation.
At the same time, a support points system is also established in the support log, and all volunteers who provide services to the old volunteers will receive a "seal of love."
Helpers can exchange these "seals of love" for other support services.
Nowadays, the "curtain agreement" has become a good story for the folks to help each other, and it also provides a reference sample for solving the "empty nest problem".
At present, Baizhifang Street is incubating “curtain agreement” characteristic teams in 19 communities, in order to give play to the spirit of volunteer service of “helping the elderly with the old” to help the community build a new type of neighborhood relationship and help the construction of a harmonious and livable community.
At the same time, through the "curtain agreement" model of neighborhood watch, home care becomes "enjoy the old" and the empty-nest elderly are not "hollow."
Wen Bing/Wen Wen