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Fran Lu

A young Chinese woman lives in a nursing home and pays just 200 yuan (US$30) in rent a month in exchange for offering companionship to the elderly.
The life choice of 25-year-old Zhang Jin reveals a new pattern for young people to live under less pressure while helping out with the country’s problem of an increasingly ageing population.

Over two years ago, Zhang, a new graduate from eastern China’s Jiangxi province, moved to Suzhou in eastern Jiangsu province when she found a job there.
Around the same time, Zhang saw a Suzhou nursing home’s online post recruiting live-in volunteers.
It offers a room to young people for 200 to 300 yuan (US$30 to US$40) a month, which is 10 times cheaper than the market price, in exchange for their service to its elderly residents.
Volunteers must be under the age of 35, have no properties in Suzhou and have a full-time job.

According to publicly available information, the nursing home, Yiyang Senior House, has more than 1,500 beds.
The home’s general manager, Shen Rong, said they selected five people out of over 40 applicants.
Zhang was selected, and posted that she has “begun retirement life at the age of 22”.
To also ensure the young volunteers’ personal lives, the home only asks for a minimum of 45 hours’ service per season.

On weekdays, Zhang is an office worker at a company 30 minutes away from the home.
At weekends, Zhang becomes a volunteer, helping the elderly residents in dancing classes and other fun activities, and chatting with them, offering companionship.
Zhang also has a one-on-one service partner in the home, an 89-year-old grandfather.
She would chat with him every evening after she got off work. If she came home late, she would also let him know so that he would not worry about her.

The man treated Zhang like his own granddaughter, cooking her hot soup at 5am when he knew she felt unwell.
Zhang said the place feels like home.
When asked if she felt tired about volunteering besides her full-time work, Zhang said the elderly residents gave her a lot of love and care, which relieved her life’s pressure.
Zhang also enjoyed her life there, saying that the home has made her feel less lonely.
“I do not know anyone in this city, “ she said.
Zhang is now the only live-in volunteer left at the home, as the other four all married and moved out.
The home said it plans to recruit new live-in volunteers.
The home’s experiment and Zhang’s experience has showed a new life pattern to both ease young migrant workers’ pressure and provide elderly people companionship.
China has one of the fastest growing ageing populations in the world.

The number of people over 60 years old was 264 million, accounting for 18.7 per cent of the total population, according to the country’s 2020 national census.
The number of people over 60 years old is projected to make up over a third of the population by 2050.
In recent years, some nursing homes accepted young residents to try out young-elderly cohabitation.
“This is a great plan for young people who enjoy communicating with others,” said an online observer.
“Both old and young people need companionship,” said another.


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China woman lives in nursing home, pays US$30 rent by providing companionship to residents

A 25-year-old woman in China has lived in a nursing home for over two years, paying just US$30 monthly rent by providing companionship to elderly fellow residents. Photo: SCMP composite/Douyin

Zhang Jin makes sure her elderly companion’s room is shipshape. Photo: www.ettoday.net

Zhang has formed a one-on-one relationship with one of the elderly residents, above. He even makes soup for her when she is feeling unwell. Photo: www.ettoday.net

The well-appointed facility, above, has more than 1,500 beds. Photo: www.ettoday.net

The nursing home provides a range of activities and entertainment for its residents. Photo: www.ettoday.net

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People & Culture

25-year-old says care venue ‘feels like home’; friendship scheme aims to ease work pressure on young, address ageing population problem


25-year-old says care venue ‘feels like home’; friendship scheme aims to ease work pressure on young, address ageing population problem.


China's ageing population

Mental health

China woman lives in nursing home, pays US$30 rent by providing companionship to residents

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}25-year-old says care venue ‘feels like home’; friendship scheme aims to ease work pressure on young, address ageing population problem

25-year-old says care venue ‘feels like home’; friendship scheme aims to ease work pressure on young, address ageing population problem