Make the gerocomium home

“比比谁做得又快又像，加油！”2月20日，在阿坝州马尔康市敬老院，院长格西王姆正在鼓励老人们做手工活。各色毛线在剪刀、针线的“修整串联”下，成为一个个毛线狗、毛线糖果、毛线拖鞋……

"Let's see who can make it fast and lifelike!" On February 20th, atthegerocomium of Ma'erkang, Aba Prefecture, Director Gexi Wangmu was encouraging the elderly to do handicraft work. Wieaving and clipping, various wool dog, wool candy, wool slippers were made up.

“日子渺小重复，却都是幸福。”今年32岁的格西王姆已在敬老院工作了14年。当选全国人大代表后，她深感自己肩上的担子更重了，“有一些思考和探索，但还远远不够。”格西王姆笑起来如同绽放的格桑花一样，美丽又自信。

"Life is ordinary and repetitive, but happy." 32-year-old Gexi Wangmu has been working in the gerocomium for 14 years. After being elected as a National People's Congress deputy, she felt greater responsibility, "I have some thinking and exploration, but it is not enough." Gexi Wangmu smiled confidently.

2009年，18岁的格西王姆成为敬老院临时聘请的养老护理员。

“刚进敬老院时，条件简陋，让老人安全干净、一天三顿吃饱饭，就是我们全部的工作。”格西王姆说，敬老院不应该是冷冰冰的“看护”，更应该有家的温暖感。

In 2009, 18-year-old Gexi Wangmu was hired as a temporary caregiver in the gerocomium.

"When I came here, the conditions were quite simple and crude. So, all our work were to keep the elderly safe and clean, and providing regular meals every day." Gexi Wangmu said, the gerocomium should not just be a place of "nursing", but a warm and sweet home.

格西王姆与老人在一起聊天

她找来照护专业书籍并在网上搜集实操视频学习，顺利考取了养老护理员资格证书。2019年，格西王姆开始担任马尔康市敬老院院长。

After that, she studied from books in caregiving as well as hands-on videos on the Internet, and obtained the occupational qualification certification as an elderly caregiver. In 2019, Gexi Wangmu began working as the director of the gerocomium of Ma'erkang.

“我们敬老院每个房间都有地暖，室内温度保持在15℃至20℃。在公共生活区，还设置有活动室、阅览室、医疗室、心理咨询室、健身室等。”格西王姆说，在国家一系列政策的支持下，敬老院条件也在不断变好。扎根养老服务的14年时间，她逐渐摸索出了照顾老人的心得。

"Each room is equipped with floor heating to keep temperature at 15℃ to 20℃. In the public living area, there are activity room, reading room, medical room, psychological consultation room and fitness room." Gexi Wangmu said that with the support of national policies, the gerocomium's condition has been improved. Rooted in elderly services for 14 years, she gradually figured out how to take care of the elderly.

格西王姆同样注重老人们的精神生活，“老人们不仅仅需要身体上的照顾，更需要心灵上的陪伴。”格西王姆说。她尝试着把幼儿园的一些课程和教学方法搬到敬老院来：找一些比较欢快的歌曲，为老人们编排一些简单的手指舞、拍打操；组织老人们演舞台剧；举办趣味运动会……一场场活动把老人们的生活塞得满满当当，也温暖了老人们的心。

Gexi Wangmu also focuses on the spiritual life of the elderly, "they need not only physical care, but also spiritual companionship." She tried to introduce some curriculum and teaching methods of kindergarten to the gerocomium: employing more cheerful songs to choreograph simple finger dances and clapping exercises; organizing stage plays for the elderly; holding fun games ... Activities have deligted the elderly and warmed their hearts.

“520爱在敬老院”主题活动

格西王姆希望更多人能够关注边远民族地区和农村的养老问题。格西王姆说，“老龄化趋势下，养老服务产业应该由政府主导、市场主体补充，同时需要更多的行业标准、行业监管出台，让市场有序竞争，提高行业整体水平，从而让老人真正有幸福感。”

Gexi Wangmu hopes that more people can pay attention to the aging caregiving problem in remote ethnic areas and rural areas. Gexi Wangmu said, "as the aging trend is rising, service industry for the elderly should be led by the government and supplemented by market players. More industry standards and regulations need to be introduced to let the market compete in an orderly manner and improve the overall quality of the industry. So that the elderly can live happier."