Grounded on core values of respect, love, and service to the elderly, the Xin Yue Senior Citizen Service Center of Chongqing, China, promotes social work services for senior citizens and builds harmonious living environment for them. On February 10, Senior Center held birthday party for 33 senior citizens with the support of TFish and Children’s Home. We also sent our new year greetings. Less than half year, teachers and children visited the senior citizens again. They warmed the senior citizens with their actions and love. Though they are orphans, they still have hopes for life with the love and care of the government and society. The children would never forget the love that other people gave them. They would like to return the society whenever they are able to. Granny Fu even recognized immediately one of the children, Xiao Lin, who had taken picture with her. They held each other’s hands and greetings as the family. Before the party, children did paper-buts with some senior citizens whose eyesight was not very good. With the help of the children, several senior citizens cut very nice patterns, which add something happy to the party. With the organization of the host, each leading senior citizens of the party introduced themselves and spoke something gratitude. Grandpa Xiong said, “when I was young, no one has ever celebrate the birthday for me. Only our closest person knew our birthday. I have never expected my birthday would be remembered. I would like to really thank the children.” When the children lighted the candles, the persons gave warm applauses. With birthday song, the senior citizens made their wishes. Then the children gave their gifts made by their own hands. Though they are not valuable, but they are special. Senior citizens need not much, they need some cares. A little gift can make them quite happy. After the activity, the children and social workers sent cakes and greetings to the rooms for those who are not convenient to move. With your help and love, we will harvest warm feelings. Original article written by Ling Feng, translated by Maggie Li, edited by Yanyan Zhang Grounded on core values of respect, love, and service to the elderly, the Xin Yue Senior Citizen Service Center of Chongqing, China, promotes social work services for senior citizens and builds harmonious living environment for them.
New year is coming. In January 8th, with the support of TFish and another enterprise, we held birthday party for 35 senior citizens born in January, and 31 volunteers participated in the activity. Birthday party in each month is always a happy day, which brings more warmth and cheers to the senior citizens. It has become a program among the senior citizens. What we can do is to let senior citizens spend more meaningful time and encourage more loving people to participate in the activity. During the activity, the senior citizens introduced themselves to the other people. Granny Li began her self-introduction with “thank everyone”. Then there were performances given by senior citizens. 2 grannies sang 2 songs and other senior citizens and volunteers joined their chorus. The atmosphere was warm and cheerful. We could not help singling along with them. When the light became dim, the volunteers came in by holding the birthday cake. The music of birthday song began to be played. When the activity came to the end, our volunteers visited senior citizens who could not come to the site. They brought cakes and gifts to their rooms. Meanwhile, the volunteers visited orphan senior citizens and brought them winter clothes and blanket. They also cut hair for the needy elderly. We hope more senior citizens sensed warmth even in winter. Original article written by Ling Feng, translated by Maggie Li, edited by Yanyan Zhang Grounded on core values of respect, love, and service to the elderly, the Xin Yue Senior Citizen Service Center of Chongqing, China, promotes social work services for senior citizens and builds harmonious living environment for them.
According to the interviews, we got to know senior citizens like activities on plant nursing. On December 1, 13 senior citizens and 17 volunteers participated in plant nursing activity held by Management Institute of Chongqing Technology University and Youth Association. To promote the participants to know well with each other within the group, the social worker introduced the contents, purpose and meaning of the activity. They also helped the senior citizens to do self-introduction. Grandpa Li’s self-introduction surprised people. He is 106 years old. He is still healthy except his hearing is not very good. He likes playing Majiang and plants. Then the social worker played a video to demonstrate how a plant grow, from sprout, growing up to mature, which just like the process of a life of people. Its similarity caused emotional resonance among the senior citizens. Every day has almost the same life process. What we can do is to let each stage of our life become meaningful. Cherish the present and do not leave regrets. After sharing, social workers and volunteers gave plant, flowerpot, earth and plastic gloves to them and assisted them to plant trees. The senior citizens chose their plants they like and start to work with them. They were very careful to plant and take care of each piece of plant. Unexpectedly, we found all senior citizens were good at planting. They did each step in an orderly way. Soon, pots of plants were seen. Looking at the flowers they had planted, their eyes were swelled with pity. Then the social workers asked the senior citizens to give a name to their pot plant and stick with a label. They would love and take care of their plants. Granny Ou gave a name, Xiao Jiaojiao to her plant. She said Xiao Jiaojiao is her little baby and will accompany her for the rest of life, so she would take good care of it. The green or little flowers let the senior citizens have more expectation about them. We hope them be rewarded from the life of plant. Original article written by Ling Feng, translated by Maggie Li, edited by Yanyan Zhang Grounded on core values of respect, love, and service to the elderly, the Xin Yue Senior Citizen Service Center of Chongqing, China, promotes social work services for senior citizens and builds harmonious living environment for them.
Winter came near and the temperature dropped lower. Many senior citizen hope they could taste a bowl of warm dumplings. On November 27th, we carried out an activity by cooperating with Voluntary Association of Chongqing Industry and Commercial University. 31 senior citizens and 25 volunteers participated in the activity. The senior citizens were interested in making dumplings. They all like to do by themselves. When the volunteers made the fillings ready, the senior citizens were involved them into the activity immediately. Some of senior citizens helped granny Li who seats on the wheelchairs with fillings and dumpling wrappers. With their hard working, dumplings with various shapes came out. Grandpa Ding made dumplings with special shape, just like a lace round the dumpling. With such a nice dumplings, the volunteers could not help taking his dumplings to show to the other persons. Grandpa Ding shared his skills with other senior citizens by demonstrating time and time again. The volunteers took the dumplings to cook. After being cooked, the senior citizens were sitting together and enjoyed their working results. The atmosphere was warm and happy. When the volunteer asked a senior citizen how many he had had. He answered 8 and said confidently, “eight is okay for me, no problem!” We hope the senior citizens would feel the warmth and care in cold winter days. Original article written by Ling Feng, translated by Maggie Li, edited by Yanyan Zhang Grounded on core values of respect, love, and service to the elderly, the Xin Yue Senior Citizen Service Center of Chongqing, China, promotes social work services for senior citizens and builds harmonious living environment for them In the afternoon of November 11, a birthday party was held for the elderly who was born in November, 36 senior citizens and 10 children participate in the activity.
The time of activity was planned on November 7, but is was postponed to 11th due to bad weather. For the activity, the children and their teachers began to raise money from charity bazaars in October. At the beginning of the party, the speech of 2 children attracted all audiences. Their talents in speaking and the way they gave speech surprised all persons. Then they performed wonderful programs. At the end of each performance, they gave their greetings and blessings to the elderly. They also gave their hand-made gifts to the senior citizens who were moved by their innocence. After the performances, the host introduced the senior citizens who were born in November. The children and their parents lighted the birthday candles for them. The senior citizens made wishes in blessings. Later, they sent birthday cakes and gifts to the senior citizens in the rooms. During our pre-activity visit, Granny Zhou was sick. When the social workers met her in hospital, she was weak. After the activity, we visited in her room and she was asleep. We put the gifts beside her bed and whispered blessings words to her. We hope our birthday wishes would help her to be better. Original article written by Ling Feng, translated by Maggie Li, edited by Yanyan Zhang Grounded on core values of respect, love, and service to the elderly, the Xin Yue Senior Citizen Service Center of Chongqing, China, promotes social work services for senior citizens and builds harmonious living environment for them. We planned a birthday party for those who were born in October for the senior citizens. We invited 2 senior citizens to participate in planning. According to their advices, we invited children with artistic skills to perform in the party. In the afternoon of October 19, the activity opened with the support of TFish. 37 senior citizens born in October attended party. Each of senior citizens introduced themselves and shred their stories. Grandpa’s story moved me a lot. “Though I cannot walk, but I can sit in the wheelchair. Even if the wheelchair cannot move, my heart is still beating,” He said. The little volunteers performed wonderful dancing, singing and allegro, which made all senior citizens smile happily. Then the children gave their greetings by sending an oil painting drew with spare time to 6 senior citizens. The painting showed their respects and caring for the elderly around them. We sent birthday cake to the senior citizens together. The senior citizens made their wishes. After the celebration party, we visited over 20 senior citizens with poor health and sent them birthday cakes and milk. We hope each senior citizen born in October can receive greetings from TFish and the children. For young guys, birthday is a kind of celebration, but for senior citizens, birthday seems more like a connection of the life, reviewing the experience until the graduation of the life.
Grounded on core values of respect, love, and service to the elderly, the Xin Yue Senior Citizen Service Center of Chongqing, China, promotes social work services for senior citizens and builds harmonious living environment for them. New year festivities are still happening at Xin Yuen Senior Citizen Service Center. At 9:40 in the morning, we had our first activity, taking family photos. This was a direct request by many of the elderly and we decided taking new photos would be a great way to start off the new year. During the activity, over 40 senior citizens took family photos. They smiled more bright than before. Some of senior citizens who suffer from severe Alzheimer’s Disease still remember their address and the names of family members. To let more senior citizens participate in the activity, we arranged two places for them to take photo. We also had home service for those who are unable to move. Seniors spent all morning getting dressed and camera ready. In the end, many of our seniors just want to spend more time with their loved ones. This was a family filled day and it was wonderful seeing everyone come together and spend quality time together. Original article written by Ling Feng, translated by Maggie Li, edited by Yanyan Zhang Grounded on core values of respect, love, and service to the elderly, the Xin Yue Senior Citizen Service Center of Chongqing, China, promotes social work services for senior citizens and builds harmonious living environment for them. At the corner of the entertainment room, Granny Gong was playing classic music on a harmonium while Grandpa Yao was sitting bedside and singing a song with the music. They are not couple, but the scene was moving. Granny Gong used to be an instructor at school and she was interested in music and learned to play harmonium. We learned later that she had broken her right leg, so she could not push hard with her right foot. The sound of the harmonium seemed low, but she did not mind and kept practicing. Grandpa Yao used to be a basketball coach. Though he is sportive, he also loves music. He said his voice is not very nice. Even so, he would like to watch and sing when he saw Granny Gong was playing harmonium. Their ages are close, and Gandpa Yao often praised Granny Gong’s playing. I could not help being moved when I saw them playing and singing together. I often heard people saying the aged are sophisticated or some negative words. Actually, each people lives in different environment, and they have different personality, hobbies and values. We should learn from their rich experiences and respect them. We encourage senior citizens to pick up their interests again and enjoy the life. Original article written by Ling Feng, translated by Maggie Li, edited by Yanyan Zhang Grounded on core values of respect, love, and service to the elderly, the Xin Yue Senior Citizen Service Center of Chongqing, China, promotes social work services for senior citizens and builds harmonious living environment for them. Chinese Valentine’s Day was coming. Xin Yue Senior Citizen Service Center carried out an activity and 25 elderly people participated in the activity. Before the activity, the staff visited 17 old couples and consulted their opinions. Many senior citizens were happy to know that the social workers had prepared the activity for them. They said valentine’s day is for young people. Most of couples have been accompanying with each other for decades. However, this romantic day is not only for young people. It is a special day to memorize their days spending together. Finally, many couples agreed to participate in the activity. During the activity, the social workers encourage the senior citizens to share their stories. Many of them said life was more difficult when they were married, just a few things as a piece of quilt, a cupboard or a table in the room. The simpleness made them keeping accompaniment with each other for the whole life. When they shared their stories, the social workers played interactive games with the senior citizens. They enjoyed the games and their prized their spouse during the activity. The atmosphere became warm. Grandpa Luo had been hit by cerebral hemorrhage and he could not express with fluent sentences. He also prized his wife with “pretty“ and “good care taker”. His wife was happy and moved. Later, the social workers and volunteers taught the grannies to fold Chinese knots and taught the grandpas to fold roses. They were learning and doing seriously. With efforts, Chinese knots and roses were made. The couples exchanged gifts. Grandpa Li recalled the most romantic things he did with his wife. In the end, he said the most romantic thing is to participate the activity with his wife. We wish them happy and good health. The volunteer was teaching the couples on how to fold Chinese knot and rose. Granny Zhang has been taking care of her husband. Her husband was gratitude her love though he could not speak. Original article written by Ling Feng, translated by Maggie Li, edited by Yanyan Zhang Grounded on core values of respect, love, and service to the elderly, the Xin Yue Senior Citizen Service Center of Chongqing, China, promotes social work services for senior citizens and builds harmonious living environment for them. Grandpa Su came from Guangdong Province. He has been living in Chongqing for about 10 years. When we went to visit Grandpa Su, he had a lot on his mind. He has been visiting the doctor frequently. His blood pressure is too high. His vision is deteriorating and he will have cataract surgery for his eyes soon. He still however, insists on reading newspapers and books every day. When we entered his home, we caught him reading with a magnifying glass on the right hand. He was sitting there like a hard-working student. He jots down notes of terms and words he does not understand. We tried to convince him to take a rest, but there were no limits to his love for knowledge. We talked about everything: poetry, history, philosophy, Buddhism, politics, spaceflight. He loved it all. Original article written by Ling Feng, translated by Maggie Li, edited by Yanyan Zhang |
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