With the city's population aging at a quick rate, nursing homes have begun sprouting up around Shanghai over the past few years.
Currently, about 2.5 million of the city's residents are over the age over 60. According to the Shanghai Municipal Statistics Bureau, about 15 percent of those over the age of 65 prefer to live in a nursing home as they are incapable of living on their own and lack a family to take care of them.
"Rest homes are set up to cater to the increased number of aging people in the city," said Gu Jianzhong, director of Waigang Rest Home, which is located in Waigang Town, northwest Jiading District.
The home was built in an old primary school, but its good service and the suburban fresh air have proven attractive to seniors from all parts of the city to register in.
The home currently has 68 residents and little room left for anyone else to move in. Managers of the home are expanding the facility, however, to make room for more residents in the future.
"The rest home provides us terrific service," said Ma Cuibao, an elderly woman from Shandong Province. "The staff treat us politely and help wash all of our clothes, and they don't discriminate against those from outside Shanghai."
Gu said one needs great patience and energy to take care of seniors, some of whom have strong tempers.
He notes an 85-year-old veteran from Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province who moved into the home after being paralyzed. He said the old man was too proud to recognize he is unable to control his bladder and refused to allow staff members to change his wet underwear.
"Listening to my staff's report, I decide to take care of the veteran myself," said Gu.
Gu tried talking and making friends with the veteran and finally the man allowed Gu to change his clothes and bathe him.
Showing respect and making friends with the elders is the only way to help the seniors become accustomed to life in a rest home.
The veteran was a smoker for about 60 years, and he insisted on smoking in bed, which nearly caused fire twice after entering the rest home.
To prevent accidents, Gu decided he would help the old man break his nicotine habit. He told the other residents not to buy smokes for the old man, effectively ending his habit.
The rest home has hired a 60-year-old retired doctor to check on the residents every night.
"At first I was not used to working in a rest home," said a staff member. "However, I became accustomed to working with the seniors after working here for two weeks."