Video series on a lifestyle app shows how senior citizens should embrace old age and the internet and learn to live life to the fullest despite all constraints
The young might be restless but trends show that there will always be something they can learn from senior citizens. This is apparent from the popularity of a series of video clips starring elderly residents at a retirement home in Tianjin that is trending on lifestyle app Xiaohongshu under the theme "Human sobriety".
"Will remaining single mean being solitary in old age?" Yu Youfang, a gray-haired internet influencer and retirement home resident, who is better known as "Teacher Yu", asks in one of the video clips. Her fellow resident quickly reassures her, "But marriage doesn't ensure a longer life," offering solace to young Chinese individuals who are often under societal pressure to get married amid falling marriage rates.
In another similar exchange, an octogenarian puts forward the argument that without hard work in youth, people cannot sustain themselves in old age. But his fellow resident promptly counters him saying, "If you work too hard, you might not even have the chance to contemplate old age," highlighting the premature deaths linked to excessive workloads.
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The video clip is one of 170 such short clips posted on a Xiaohongshu account called Spring in Chunxuanmao, which is the brainchild of an employee of the retirement home chain Chunxuanmao. It has amassed nearly 100,000 likes and attracted over 2,300 comments. The videos are gaining traction among young urbanites who are grappling with stress stemming from various issues, such as relationships and work-life balance.
The videos apart, its comments section is becoming like a go-to place for the young to seek guidance on various issues concerning their lives, such as relationships — a subject they avoid discussing with their parents.
In a world where the pursuit of success and material wealth is so commonplace, Yu and her fellow residents stand out as beacons of wisdom and serenity.
Leading this project is Chen Zhuo, the current director of Chunxuanmao, who is driven by a profound passion for senior care and a strong interest in bridging generational gaps through impactful storytelling. His team consists of eight members born in the 1990s, who work behind the scenes. Growing under the care of his grandparents, Chen Zhuo developed a deep connection with the elderly.
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Recognizing the urgent need of his employer Chunxuanmao to get some publicity in the competitive eldercare market, Chen Zhuo sought to elevate the brand by creating viral video content. "That's where my strength lies," he said.
Through casual on-camera conversations, these seniors in Tianjin have showcased the joys of several senior citizens leading retired lives, countering the stereotype of old age being lonely and monotonous.
They are also different from their peers in that they have embraced the internet to impart valuable life lessons to a younger audience grappling with anxiety and societal pressures. One individual who ventured into this uncharted territory is Geng Fengru, known by the nickname "Grandma Alice" in multiple clips.
After her superannuation, this former rubber factory worker got a managerial position at a retirement home.
As she grew accustomed to the private retirement home's working, Geng rose to become its director before finally retiring last year to become a resident of Chunxuanmao.
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Unlike many Chinese seniors who opt to spend their twilight years close to family, the 73-year-old Geng stands as a steadfast proponent of institutional care services.
She firmly champions the belief that the communal activities, healthcare support and entertainment offerings found in retirement homes play a pivotal role in enhancing the overall well-being of elderly individuals.
China has in recent years worked to shore up the supply of eldercare services as the nation rapidly ages. Figures from the National Health Commission show that the number of Chinese people aged 60 and above will surpass 300 million by next year — accounting for 20 percent of the population. Around 2035, the age group is projected to exceed 400 million, comprising over 30 percent of the population.
The demographic change, intertwined with a higher percentage of single-child families, has made traditional reliance on the family for eldercare unsustainable and created a huge demand for caregivers.
On multiple occasions, officials have stressed that caregiving, which is often stigmatized due to its labor-intensive nature, is a respectable profession that can relieve the worries of society and families.
Camera shyness
Thanks to Spring in Chunxuanmao, Geng has garnered a huge fan following, particularly among younger generations. She was initially apprehensive about participating in the video shoots. She now takes pleasure in perusing the positive feedback from young viewers and acknowledges the role their content has played in alleviating the stress faced by young Chinese people.
"At first, I was nervous speaking in front of the camera," Geng said.
She credits director Chen Zhuo for offering invaluable guidance by elucidating the purpose behind each episode to the senior performers and even providing practical demonstrations to aid their performance.
Geng and her fellow actors even delve into discussions on such taboo topics as death. "In communities with a large elderly population, 'death' is often a sensitive topic. However, in our video clips, we address it openly, even finding humor in it," she explained.
Geng shared how her personal experiences, including heart surgeries, have deeply ingrained in her a sense of gratitude for health and happiness. "Just sitting in a room with a furrowed brow won't solve any problems," she said. "It's normal to face health issues as we age; take the necessary medications and move on."
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Recognizing the intense pressures of modern society, she advocates for a balanced approach to life and encourages young individuals to confront challenges with resilience and optimism.
She said every generation faces its own unique challenges. "During our time, jobs were assigned by the State," she said, subtly alluding to job-related anxieties such as unemployment, layoffs and grueling work schedules that one often finds in tech companies these days. But life was never easy for her generation, either, as they were often grappling with multiple children. "I hope that by watching these videos, younger audiences can approach obstacles with greater determination and positivity."
Known as "Grandpa Carl" in many video clips, Chen Jiawei, 81, almost died in his 50s. Diagnosed with the rare Guillain-Barré syndrome at 55, a condition that typically gave patients only a few months to live, he defied the odds and survived, albeit with a severe walking disability.
After retirement, Grandpa Carl became a self-taught singer, drawing inspiration from opera greats such as Pavarotti and Chinese singer Dai Yuqiang. His exceptional singing talent, combined with his remarkable battle against a life-threatening illness, led to him getting a special invite to perform in a grand choir event in Beijing attended by national leaders.
Now, Chen Jiawei's passion has expanded to include content creation. Initially drawn to the video shoots for the social aspect, he soon discovered his knack for it. "I wasn't nervous facing the camera. It felt like a natural expression of genuine emotions, reflecting society's realities. With that approach, the end result couldn't have been anything but good," he said.
Creating short videos has become a daily ritual for him and his friends, who gather for half an hour, almost daily, to make videos.
Despite having become a local celebrity whom people approach on the streets with a request to pose for photographs with them, Chen Jiawei humbly declines many offers of free services from restaurants and barbershops.
Like many of his peers, Chen Jiawei was initially not keen to move into a retirement home. However, with the changing dynamics of single-child families and demands of changing times, many elders, including Chen Jiawei, eventually agreed to live in a retirement home to reduce the load on his children.
Their videos, showcasing joyful interactions among elderly peers, are slowly unraveling stereotypes about aging apart from family. When speaking to younger audiences, Chen Jiawei emphasizes that life is a journey rather than a relentless pursuit of meaning.
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"Kids these days have huge dreams," he said. "Back in our day, our goals were pretty humble. Just hitting a small milestone or making a tiny dream come true would make us feel like we'd won a lottery." But, he added, "I don't want to come across as an educator, I just want to share my life's experience with the young people."
Xiaohongshu's digital realm Spring in Chunxuanmao stands out for its content featuring elderly individuals in their 70s and 80s sharing invaluable life lessons and insights.
Chen Zhuo, the program's director, said that while the videos feature elderly individuals, their primary audience is the younger generation. "We want people to draw inspiration from our content and live life to the fullest."
The newfound popularity of the elderly participants as online personalities underscores Chen Zhuo's belief in democratizing the benefits of media and technology for everyone, irrespective of age.
A recent report by QuestMobile on China's mobile internet landscape showed that as of September 2022, the country had 1.19 billion active mobile internet users monthly. The report highlights a notable trend: the continued expansion of usage among older people. In September 2022, individuals aged 46 and above constituted more than one-third of the user base, emerging as a key driver of user growth.
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Chen Zhuo envisions a future where seniors can leverage the internet to explore new opportunities and embrace digital connectivity.
To reach that goal, he has asked caregivers at the retirement home to assist senior residents in keeping up with technological advancements such as using smartphones and staying engaged in the ever-evolving digital landscape. "Seniors should never be left out," Chen Zhuo said.
Wang Qiaozhi contributed to this story.
