Day-care nursing homes a new trend

Once the father and son reach the nursing center, a nurse standing at the door helps carry Phuc's personal belongings and assist him in completing his health checkup.

After breakfast, Phuc and other fellow seniors would attend a morning exercise session.

"I'm not any different from children attending day school now," Phuc said, commenting on his daily schedule.

Every Monday to Friday morning, his son brings him from their Bac Tu Liem District family apartment to the nursing home in the same neighborhood.

Then he picks Phuc up and brings him home in the evening. The grandfather stays at home with his children and grandchildren on weekends.

Phuc’s wife passed away seven years ago.

Since then, his health has deteriorated, and he’s been reluctant to go out.

Before he enrolled at the nursing home, Phuc spent all day moving back and forth between his bedroom and living room in the apartment. He had to microwave his lunch himself because his children and grandchildren were all at work or school.

At the end of last year, Phuc collapsed while home alone.

His son then concluded that he could not leave Phuc at home alone anymore. On the other hand, he didn't want to send Phuc to a full-time nursing home. So he decided to enroll Phuc at a semi-boarding nursing home for seniors. Phuc immediately supported the idea as he wanted his children and grandchildren to be worry-free. He started attending the day center half a year ago.

"There are a lot of people my age here, so I'm really happy," Phuc says.

"When I need to take a day off, I really miss them. Since I started here [the center], I haven't experienced the feeling of longing for my children and grandchildren to come home anymore."

Dang Hanh Phuc, 94, at the nursing home in Hanoi’s Bac Tu Liem District on April 24, 2023. Photo by VnExpress/Quynh Nguyen

Cu Viet Cuong, 73, is another client at the same nursing center.

He was diagnosed with Parkinson’s after an accident and enrolled at the day home so that his wife wouldn’t have to take care of him and could better focus on taking care of the house and her own daily tasks.

Cuong said he’s felt better since he began attending the center because the nurses take good care of him. His back problems like kyphosis (hunchback) have been getting better, his body shakes less and he moves around more easily. His wife occasionally participates in activities at the center with him.

Le Thi Lan, 77, another senior who attends the center during the day, shared that she felt better since joining the center because she’s able to exercise, read books, and attend group activities.

"I feel like I’ve became younger," she said. "My health has completely improved compared to the days when I only had a TV as my companion," she said.

Seniors attend physical activities at the nursing home in Bac Tu Liem District on April 24, 2023. Photo by VnExpress/Quynh Nguyen

Tides of change ebb and flow

Nursing homes have gained popularity in Vietnam over the past 10 years thanks to rising family incomes and a disproportionately aging population.

The General Statistics Office of Vietnam has estimated that there are around 12 million elderly people in Vietnam, or some 12% of the population. This number is estimated to rise to 17% by 2030 and 25% by 2050. And the proportion of seniors living alone or with their partners – instead of their children and extended family – rose from 18.3% in 2009 to 27.8% in 2019.

Thus, an increasing need for nursing homes and senior care centers has been born. According to the Department of Social Assistance, there are currently 46 senior care centers operating nationwide.

But the newest trend is homes like Phuc’s: semi-boarding nursing homes where clients only spend part of their time.

Nguyen Thi Kim Thanh, general director of a company active in the field of senior care in Bac Tu Liem, said her company started operating in semi-boarding format in April 2022. This format was popularized in Japan and Europe first, and is just now taking off as a new trend.

This service targets people aged over 70 who don’t have many serious health problems but need to maintain frequent exercise, and lack a caregiver or companion when their children and grandchildren are busy with work and school.

"I want to build a solution that helps these seniors to enjoy their old age healthily, happily, and confidently," Thanh said.

Her 800-square-meter center in Bac Tu Liem includes physical activity rooms, massage rooms, acupressure rooms, libraries, and shared spaces. The center’s nurses support all senior members. Daily menus include a meal and two snacks. The portions are all tailored to each clients’ taste.

Thanh’s center also hosts frequent entertainment activities for seniors, including picnics, water puppet shows and traditional ritual song performances. Psychological consulting sessions are held once a week so members can share their concerns instead of holding them in.

An afternoon tea session for members of the center. Photo by VnExpress/Quynh Nguyen

Founded a year ago with only five to six attendants, now the center takes care of elderly people from around 30 families. The center offers pickup and drop-off services for those whose children cannot arrange to get them to and from the center.

Registration at Thanh’s center costs between VND 500,000-600,000 ($21-26) a day, depending on the specific plan signed up for. These prices are above average. "However, after directly experiencing our services, most families are satisfied and decide to sign up for a long time. Some pay for whole six-month packages at once," Thanh said.

Lan was originally concerned about the high cost. She was then comforted by her son.

"This amount of money is nothing compared to what you’ve sacrificed for us," he said.

After attending the daytime nursing home for over five months, Phuc said that both his physical and mental health have improved, mostly because he’s been taken care of by the nurses and is able to talk to people his age without getting lonely. He also enjoys the food.

Thanh hopes to open branches of her center in every district in the city.

"I hope seniors can enjoy the best services," she said.

"I hope they enjoy their lives instead of waiting for the end of their lives."