Long Term Care

China senior care is becoming an inspiration for new thinking about long-term care for elders. David Green, retired after 29 years with Evergreen Retirement Community in Oshkosh, outlined his work in China for a new for profit concept.  He is a 1% partner in a project spearheaded by a group of investors for a small skilled nursing facility housing 64 residents.  The facility will be in Hangzhou near Shanghai—a more than three hour drive from the city or 45 minutes by bullet train. Green said there is a great need for elderly care with some 155 million in the population today and 490 million by 2050.  China, he said, has no model for care and can learn some from US experience but, also the investment team model can allow the US to learn as well.  The Chinese have one child per family; women retiring at age 50 and men at 65; a new financially elite, and changing attitudes is placing great strain on the country.  In the past Chinese families took care of their own.  It was considered bad face in peer relations not to care for elderly family members. The new rich have left the interior, the farms and moved to the coast to work in factories and left the elderly uncared for. To save face elderly were put under care of a street person who stayed in a “back room” or placed in a hospital where all are sick to save face.  Now the new concept has established core values, sustainability, honor, excellence, caring and security.  He compared US constraints such as regulations, reimbursements and requiring certified nursing assistants.  The China model, Green said, will be based on private pay and some regulations but no certified nursing assistants - persons who will be considered life aides.  There will be life programs versus care plans and concerns for meaningful relationships. First will come life, second medical concepts, he said.  In a day study, medical filled about 30 minutes. Green’s video slides cited business plan concepts.  For the less than 2 acres of land $4.5 million was paid. Transitions, a slide said, is that life is a series of events joined by transitions.  Transitions are impacted by a person’s life styles.

Green said the new business concept for the elderly has immense possibilities with the millions of aging in need of care.  New buildings will be built always facing south for light and warmth and exercise will be outdoors, a major departure from US elderly care facilities.