In October 2007, I arranged a tour to China. As President of San Diego Health Care Association, I coordinated visits to two nursing homes with the help of China Spree Tours. A total of 36 people consisting of SDHCA board officers, members of CAHF including Parkside Special Care’s Medical Director, Andrew Alongi, M.D. and Sandra Lourido, R.N., Kennon S Shea & Associates participated. We visited the Beijing Social Welfare Institution #1 and the Zhongren Nursing Home near Shanghai. In addition to seeing the many treasures in Beijing, Xian, Shanghai and Suzhou, we were also given a tour of a Kindergarten School in Beijing’s Hutong district and a Blind Massage Hospital.
Our first stop in Beijing was to the Social Welfare Institution #1. It is a 500 bed hospital complex which includes acute care, independent and assisted living as well as a 140 bed skilled nursing unit. We were greeted cordially by Jiaso Yu Fen, Assistant President of All-China Women’s Federation who had arranged the tour of the hospital. We were invited into a beautifully appointed conference room where we were introduced to Mr. Zhang Fu Xing, the Administrator. Following a brief video introduction to the center we were allowed a question and answer period. We discovered many similarities in direct care delivery. An interesting observation was that a meal cart was rolled through the halls at meal times and served individually to each one room studio apartment. Numerous video monitors were contained within a room to track the movements of residents and visitors.
Near Shanghai, we visited the Zhongren Nursing Home. It is a beautiful 400 bed facility. Since our plane touched down three hours later then planned, we arrived at the nursing home very late. Several residents who seemed to know we were coming greeted us in the lobby. The Administrator and Director of Nurses had waited until 5:00 pm but had to leave. However, the resident physician was very gracious in providing a tour. She seemed very proud of the opportunity to show 36 people through the hospital. The resident rooms were very clean but sparse in furnishings. We were somewhat surprised by the use of bed restraints in addition to full side rails. The residents appeared to be well cared for. There was no evidence of skin breakdown. The residents receive a combination of western styled medicine as well as eastern style. Daily massage therapy is available to all residents as well as acupressure and acupuncture when needed. The public areas are large with comfortable furnishings. I presented to the elders at Zhongren Nursing Home a plaque on behalf the San Diego Health Care Association. It was a great photo opportunity for the elders, the “Aunties” (equivalent to our C.N.A.s), the licensed nurses, physicians on staff and our group.
The Blind Massage Hospital in Beijing was also a highlight of the trip. Blind people throughout China are given an opportunity to apply for entrance to the massage school. Who better could be trained to provide therapeutic massage then people who “see” with their hands? We were given a behind the scenes tour by Ms. Yang Yang, the Director. One of the instructors, who is blind and spoke excellent English, gave us a history of the school, the clinic and the treatment modalities. The founder of the school was introduced to us. Through an interpreter we learned he founded the school 40 years earlier. The Clinic sees approximately 1000 people a day. They are open 7 days a week from 7:00 am to 10:00 pm.
The visit to the Kindergarten in the Hutong District in Beijing was fun. The children seemed very happy to see us. Every child was able to say “thank you, very much” in perfect English when they accepted candy from us. In the lobby of the school, there was a tree filled with flash cards of different fruits with the English name. All children are taught English beginning as early as kindergarten. We learned that some children come to the school daily and others stay Monday through Friday and go home on weekends to be with their parents.
Our China Spree National Tour guide, Ming Li commented that she found our groups’ itinerary among the most interesting she had ever experienced. She felt she had learned so much about her own country’s ability to care for the very old and the very young. She stated she would be forever grateful to our group for planning this special tour. Because of Ming’s expertise, knowledge and tireless enthusiasm, our trip was one not to be forgotten either.
Zhongren Nursing Home, Shanghai - from left to right: 2 residents, Caregiver (hidden in green), Loraine Wiencek, Administrator, Nancy Beecham, DON, Mary Norwood, Administrator, Zhongren Licensed Nurse, Zhongren Physician, Ed Long, Aministrator and President of SDHCA and the Resident Physician in Charge of the Zhongren Nursing Home
Ed Long, President
San Diego Health Care Association
November 5, 2007
Posted by elong as President's Update at 6:35 AM PST
