Xinyu helps rural elderly enjoy their golden years

Volunteers help the elderly make Zongzi, or sticky rice dumplings, at Yiyang Home facility in Guihua village, Xinyu, in East China's Jiangxi province. [Photo/chinadaily.com.cn]

It's natural to associate "Yiyang" with the Chinese idiom "Yiyang Tiannian" (颐养天年), which means to live a peaceful life in old age or to spend one's remaining days happily.

The Yiyang Zhijia, or Yiyang Home program, is an elderly care program in Xinyu, in East China's Jiangxi province. The city's experience with this program was included among the second batch of national typical cases of rural public services in 2020 by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs and the National Development and Reform Commission.

It was a sunny afternoon on June 9 at a Yiyang Home facility in Guihua village, Mahong township of Xinyu.

It was just after lunch time and most of the elderly people living there were relaxing on the porch or under the tree in the courtyard. This Yiyang Home facility is a rectangular building with a courtyard enclosed by rooms on four sides. Each room is designed to accommodate two people and boasts a private bathroom.

Liao Lanying was sitting by the door to her room, shaking a cattail leaf fan to help her cool down. Liao appeared to be in her early 70s – although looks can be deceiving.

"I'm 94 years old," she said with a kind smile. She moved into the Yiyang Home last year and said she feels pretty good living there.

The notice board on the wall near her room shows the income and expenses of the Yiyang Home, as well as some donations. It shows that facility has received attention from diverse sources, including government departments, enterprises, social organizations and individuals.

Representatives are elected from the people living in the Yiyang Home to oversee its daily operation, according to a local official.