A Spring Festival 'Respite': When Nursing Homes Offer Caregivers a Much-Needed Break

Photo/China Youth Daily

This year, some nursing homes in China introduced "respite services"—short-term stays during the holiday. For as low as 99 yuan a day, caregivers can get a break while their loved ones receive professional care, join festive activities, and experience a different kind of warmth.

Yet the choice isn't always easy. Some families still fear being seen as "unfilial." And for seniors, the question remains: where do they truly want to spend the holiday?

Behind the trend lies a deeper shift—China's nursing homes are evolving from welfare institutions to community-based services. But true elder care, experts say, must go beyond safety and routine. It should respect the elder's voice, however small.

By Wang Xueer, Wang Ziyuan, Liu Guanyi(intern)/China Youth Daily