'Curtain agreement' ensures safety of seniors in Shanxi

Senior resident Rong Dingxiang waves to volunteers through the window of her apartment at a community in Xinghualing district in Taiyuan, Shanxi province, earlier this year. (ZHU XINGXIN/CHINA DAILY)

The simple act of opening and closing the curtains is being used in the Xinghualing district of Taiyuan, Shanxi province, to ensure the safety and well-being of more than 400 elderly residents living there.

Known as the "curtain agreement", the practice, which has been in place for nearly four years, has become a vital part of the community's daily routine.

Zhang Jianzhong, 60, a former train driver for China State Railway Group, came up with the idea for the practice in 2021.

Zhang said that the old residential areas in Taiyuan lacked elevators, and many senior people living alone resided on the fourth or fifth floors. Volunteers tasked with checking on elderly residents, themselves in their 60s and 70s, found it physically challenging to climb the stairs. Some seniors also had hearing impairments, making it time-consuming to visit them in person.

Initially, 16 households signed up and would open their curtains before 9 am to signify they had safely gotten up. At 8 pm, they would close the curtains, symbolizing a safe day.

According to Zhang, adhering to the schedule can efficiently avoid disrupting the lives of seniors and protect their safety.

Xinghualing district is a densely populated old urban area where nearly 20 percent of the population is elderly.

Zhang and a group of volunteers visit numerous residential areas each morning to check that the curtains are open.

The practice has successfully rescued seniors who had collapsed from sudden incidents such as heart attacks or who were at risk of gas poisoning due to improper operation.

Wu Xiaocui, 78, who lives alone in Jichuangxi community, said, "The significance of the curtain agreement is that someone cares about me, making me feel very content."

Wu said that opening the curtains has become a daily habit, and her hope is that this practice continues.

"Currently, it's going well, and it also reflects that we live harmoniously," Wu added.

Rong Dingxiang, 84, has also joined the curtain agreement, but there are times when she prefers not to draw the curtains, expecting the arrival of volunteers for a chat.

"I miss them all so much, that's why I purposely leave the curtains undrawn," Rong said.

Volunteer Zhao Jie said, "It is our responsibility to make this matter perfect, to motivate more people to do this well, and carry it forward."

With the number of seniors increasing, addressing the safety of those living alone has become an important issue.

Similar practices have been adopted in other areas. Last year in Jiamusi, Heilongjiang province, volunteers from six communities put in place a curtain agreement, which was well received.