Nursing homes must serve all of the vulnerable elderly

Public nursing homes should primarily serve the poorest seniors who have no relatives to rely on, says an article of the Beijing News (excerpts below)

The Ministry of Civil Affairs required State-run nursing homes to clarify their responsibilities and prioritize services for the widowed and childless, disabled and poor seniors. This comes amid rising demand for the services nursing homes can provide.

It is no secret that some public nursing homes are selective in who they admit.

This behavior goes against the original intention of public nursing homes. Taking care of the basic needs of the elderly, especially if they are vulnerable or isolated, is a public service to be provided by the government　　

The government should increase its input in the public nursing home sector and strengthen its administration and supervision of the nursing homes to ensure they better serve the public.