"Going to boarding school" at age 70: The journey to find joy for lonely elderly people

Mrs. Thuy, 72 years old, used to wander around alone in an empty house after her husband passed away. Only when she joined the semi-boarding nursing home model did she feel "reborn".

Every morning, the 16-seat car of nursing home Stopping at the gate, Mrs. Thuy smiled, picked up her small bag and got into the car. She had been a literature teacher for over 40 years, and was familiar with the laughter of her students. But since her husband passed away and her children went to work far away, the house had become too big and too quiet.

“ I was not used to silence. Sometimes I asked myself: why should I live anymore ?”, she recalled.

Once reading the newspaper, she learned about the model. nursing home – a place where the elderly come to do activities during the day and return home at night. “ I thought I would try it for a day, but I never expected to stick with it until now ,” Ms. Thuy shared with a smile.

In the morning, she was guided by a nurse to do rehabilitation exercises and massage her hands and feet. After a light breakfast, she participated in an onsen bath and sauna – an activity she had never seen anywhere else. “ I thought sauna was for young people, but it is good for both the heart and sleep ,” she shared.

In the afternoon, she and a few friends of the same age strolled around the shady garden, then sat drinking tea, telling stories about her children and grandchildren, and recalling her teaching days. Laughter rang out regularly, dispelling the feeling of loneliness that she once feared the most.

“ Before, I only talked to the TV. Now every day I have someone to listen to me, someone to ask about me when I’m tired, someone to hold my hand when I walk slowly ,” she said, her eyes shining with joy.

When the car took her home at sunset, she still felt relieved. The same old house, but no longer as lonely as before. “ I am still in my own house, but my spirit is different. I feel younger, happier, and have a reason to get up early every morning ,” she shared.

Useful club activities bring togetherness and enjoyment into old age.

Mr. Lam, 75 years old, used to be a bridge engineer, working on construction all his life. But when he retired, his life was reduced to just four walls and an old table. Since his wife passed away, he hardly left the house, and he could barely eat a meal with only one person.

“ The children are busy, they love their father but don’t have time. I don’t blame them, but I still feel sad ,” said Mr. Lam.

An old friend invited him to Asahi Oriental to join the semi-boarding nursing home model. At first, he refused, thinking that it was “not suitable for old age”. But after a few times of encouragement from his daughter, he agreed to try. “ Unexpectedly, after only one week, I felt a difference” , he said.

In the morning, Mr. Lam was checked by the care staff and instructed on deep breathing techniques to relieve back pain. Then it was time to relax in the sauna and have lunch with friends. “ Here, everyone is happy and has stories to tell. I feel like I am not forgotten ,” he shared.

In the afternoon, what he enjoyed most was walking around the garden, where the old people played chess together, talked about their youth, went on business trips, built bridges and roads. Sometimes, he laughed because he realized he talked as enthusiastically as a young man.

“ I used to think old age was just about waiting. But it turns out, you can still live happily and healthily if you step out of loneliness,” Mr. Lam said, his voice relieved.

When the car took him home, the small house was no longer a place to confine himself, but a peaceful stop after a day full of joy. “ I still get to go home – the place I have been attached to all my life. But now, I come back with a different mood: more peaceful, more joyful ”, he smiled gently, his eyes shining.

According to Dr. Nguyen The Son, representative of Phuong Dong Asahi, the semi-boarding nursing home model is not simply a place for health care. the elderly, but also aims to awaken life energy, help them regain joy, the feeling of being cared for and accompanied.

“ We want to create a space where the elderly can live happily, live healthily, be listened to and share every day ,” said Dr. Son.

Unlike the traditional nursing home model, participants still stay in their own homes, but during the day they experience a system of medical services, rehabilitation, sports, relaxation, and entertainment in a friendly and professional environment.

The elderly enjoy a comprehensive, specialized health care system.

Every morning, they are examined by the medical team, monitoring basic indicators to promptly detect and adjust problems if any. Then there is a series of rich activities: exercise, swimming, meditation, sauna, spa, or participating in poetry, music , painting clubs.

The diet is also designed specifically for each person's physical condition, ensuring it is both delicious and nutritious. From breakfast, lunch to snacks, all are created by nutrition experts, helping the elderly maintain health, clear mind and deeper sleep.

Positive changes like those of Ms. Thuy and Mr. Lam reflect a new trend in modern society, where the concept of “retirement” is no longer associated with loneliness or dependence, but becomes a civilized choice, bringing initiative and joy to the elderly.

In the context of Vietnam entering the aging population stage, this is a solution to help parents receive thoughtful care, children feel secure, and society become more humane.

Source: https://baolangson.vn/di-hoc-ban-tru-tuoi-70-hanh-trinh-tim-lai-niem-vui-cua-nhung-nguoi-gia-co-don-5063700.html