Ms. Duong Nguyet Anh, now 79, is single and has no family at all. At an age when most people are enjoying retirement, Nguyet Anh was selling lottery tickets on the streets of My Tho city in Tien Giang province. It was, she said, her only source of income. Since the day she moved into the Thanh Binh nursing home, her life has been easier. Now she does not have to struggle to earn a living and she has someone to look after her all day. Nguyet Anh said: “I feel happy, comfortable, and safe here. I want to stay here as long as I can.”
 Thanh Binh nursing home was built by the My Tho Diocese and put into operation in November, 2018 |
Thanh Binh nursing home was built by the My Tho Diocese and put into operation in November, 2018. Its 12 rooms provide a home to 16 elderly people from Tien Giang, Long An, and Dong Thap province. The oldest resident is 84. The youngest is 55. Most are single with and no job. Here they have a healthy place to live for free. If they get sick, they are taken to a hospital for treatment. The residents of Thanh Binh nursing home, which is surrounded by a spacious and beautiful garden, are cared for by a staff of three.
 Since it opened, the nursing home has provided a home to many single elderly people |
Ms. Tran Thi Le Xuan, 55, from Chau Thanh district, Tra Vinh province, is one of the three care providers. “I’m an old single lady myself, so I’m happy to be able to help these people. We do our best to make them feel at home. Instead of staying home alone, I prefer to come here and help old people, which makes my day more meaningful,’ Xuan said.
Taking care of the elderly is hard work, especially if they have serious health issues. Nguyen Thi Phan, the Deputy Director of Thanh Binh Nursing Home, said: “I feel loved by these old people. Old age is a sensitive time. Elderly people need care and comfort to lead a healthy life without worries or anxiety. Our staff have to make the residents feel loved so they will open their hearts and be happy here.”
Thanh Binh nursing home is located in a small alley. It was conceived by an elder care program launched by the Vietnam Association of the Elderly.