A nursing home operated by a megachurch in Fujian has been providing care for the elderly and ill, with some even experiencing healing.
Run by the Tabitha volunteer service center of Beimen Church in Zhangzhou City, the Jiale Nursing Home opened in May 2021 to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the church's founding of the church, which was established on Easter.
The church registered the volunteer service center at the Xiangcheng District Civil Affairs Bureau in March 2016, launching diversified elderly care services, such as rehabilitation care, dementia care, and hospice care.
With 1,915 believers and 1,123 catechumens, the church's charitable activities are carried out by Reverend Huang Lihong, director of the church board, eight pastors, and two elders. These activities include organizing free clinics in rural areas, providing free medicines, and visiting orphans and widows in welfare homes and nursing homes every Spring Festival.
Located at No. 192, Neiliao Farm, Jiuhu Town, Zhangzhou City, the nursing home is more than eight kilometers away from the urban area.
Covering a construction area of 10,148 square meters (2.51 acres) and a floor area of over 5,000 square meters (1.234 acres), the nursing home consists of single rooms, double rooms, triple rooms, and five-person rooms, totaling 156 beds.
The home offers five levels of nursing care, ranging from self-care to semi-self-care (low-grade and high-end nursing care), full care, and super care, based on the residents' preferences and physical conditions.
Through collaboration with Zhangzhou People's Hospital, the home has professional doctors in the medical room who provide round-the-clock consultations.
Besides excellent medical services, the home also provides nutritious meals prepared by professional nutritionists, interesting games, and fitness exercises for residents.
The nursing home also accommodates many devoted Christians and spiritual seekers, who are regularly visited by Pastor Huang, who listens to their suggestions. One resident, Ms. Gan, a 95-year-old mother of an international pianist, is particularly enthusiastic about singing hymns with Pastor Huang. As a token of her gratitude, Ms. Gan asked her family to present a silk banner to the home.
After several months of care and physical conditioning by the nursing home staff, Ms. Lin, an 82-year-old individual who was transferred from the intensive care unit of a hospital, has progressed from being a semi-self-care resident to practicing full self-care.
Another resident, a skilled man with experience in mountain excavation and road construction, unfortunately, suffered a stroke and subsequent illness. Upon arrival at the nursing home, he was unable to feed himself. However, after receiving acupuncture and physical therapy from the home's medical staff, he has made significant strides in his recovery and can now feed himself while continuing to receive medical care.
This nursing home represents the first institution established by the Zhangzhou church to provide care for the elderly.
(The author of this article is a member of the Fujian Writers Association.)
- Translated by Abigail Wu
漳州市高新区迦乐养护院坐落在福建省漳州市高新区九湖镇内寮农场旁，距市区8公里多，由漳州北门基督教堂属下的漳州多加义工服务中心，于2021年5月创办。漳州北门基督教堂有信徒1915人，慕道友1123人。有堂委会主任、牧师黄立红与8位传道，2位长老。参与各项社会公益慈善事业，多次深入农村开展义诊，组织送医送药活动；每逢春节还组织义工到福利院、养护院看望孤寡老人。
漳州北门基督教堂于2016年3月在芗城区民政局正式注册“漳州多加义工服务中心”，经政府部门批准，兴办迦乐养护院，推出康复护理、失智照护、临终关怀等多样化养老模式。
漳州迦乐养护院占地面积10148平方米，建筑面积5000多平方米，有床位156张，分设单人间、双人间、三人间、五人间和自理、半自理（低档护理）、半自理（高档护理）、全护理、特级护理5个级别，由入住院员及其家属根据自己意愿、身体条件等选择。
养护院配备医疗诊室，全天候有专业医师坐诊值守，并与漳州市人民医院合作建立“医疗绿色通道”，可及时为院员们治病疗伤。功能完善的餐厅，有专业营养师研配可口的膳食，坐轮椅的行动不便者，由护工按时推送到餐厅。并由多种趣味游戏和适量健身运动的举办。
院员中有不少虔诚的基督信徒、慕道友，也有普通群众。黄立红牧师在百忙中常抽时间到养护院看望院员们，倾听大家的建议。
95岁的甘女士是一位国际钢琴艺术家的母亲，每当她一见到黄牧师前来探视，兴奋地与黄牧师同声唱圣歌。她特嘱家人赠送院方一面锦旗，上印“友爱大家庭，情暖众人心”10个大字。
82岁的林女士从诊治的某医院重病房转进迦乐养护院时，生活尚不能自理。经过数月精心养护、调理，变为可半自理，现已达到全自理的水平。
有位善于开山筑路的能人，不幸中风受病痛折磨，刚入住养护院时，连进食都无法自喂。经过院里医护人员施行针灸、理疗，现已能自喂进餐，继续在医护康复中。
（本文作者为福建省作家协会会员）
记福建大教堂运营的养护院
A nursing home operated by a megachurch in Fujian has been providing care for the elderly and ill, with some even experiencing healing.
Run by the Tabitha volunteer service center of Beimen Church in Zhangzhou City, the Jiale Nursing Home opened in May 2021 to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the church's founding of the church, which was established on Easter.
The church registered the volunteer service center at the Xiangcheng District Civil Affairs Bureau in March 2016, launching diversified elderly care services, such as rehabilitation care, dementia care, and hospice care.
With 1,915 believers and 1,123 catechumens, the church's charitable activities are carried out by Reverend Huang Lihong, director of the church board, eight pastors, and two elders. These activities include organizing free clinics in rural areas, providing free medicines, and visiting orphans and widows in welfare homes and nursing homes every Spring Festival.
Located at No. 192, Neiliao Farm, Jiuhu Town, Zhangzhou City, the nursing home is more than eight kilometers away from the urban area.
Covering a construction area of 10,148 square meters (2.51 acres) and a floor area of over 5,000 square meters (1.234 acres), the nursing home consists of single rooms, double rooms, triple rooms, and five-person rooms, totaling 156 beds.
The home offers five levels of nursing care, ranging from self-care to semi-self-care (low-grade and high-end nursing care), full care, and super care, based on the residents' preferences and physical conditions.
Through collaboration with Zhangzhou People's Hospital, the home has professional doctors in the medical room who provide round-the-clock consultations.
Besides excellent medical services, the home also provides nutritious meals prepared by professional nutritionists, interesting games, and fitness exercises for residents.
The nursing home also accommodates many devoted Christians and spiritual seekers, who are regularly visited by Pastor Huang, who listens to their suggestions. One resident, Ms. Gan, a 95-year-old mother of an international pianist, is particularly enthusiastic about singing hymns with Pastor Huang. As a token of her gratitude, Ms. Gan asked her family to present a silk banner to the home.
After several months of care and physical conditioning by the nursing home staff, Ms. Lin, an 82-year-old individual who was transferred from the intensive care unit of a hospital, has progressed from being a semi-self-care resident to practicing full self-care.
Another resident, a skilled man with experience in mountain excavation and road construction, unfortunately, suffered a stroke and subsequent illness. Upon arrival at the nursing home, he was unable to feed himself. However, after receiving acupuncture and physical therapy from the home's medical staff, he has made significant strides in his recovery and can now feed himself while continuing to receive medical care.
This nursing home represents the first institution established by the Zhangzhou church to provide care for the elderly.
(The author of this article is a member of the Fujian Writers Association.)
- Translated by Abigail Wu
Faith-Based Nursing Home Runs in Fujian
