Workers at a nursing home in Hefei, capital of Anhui province, tied elderly residents in their charge to their beds in the idea that doing so would enable them to better care for them.

A resident surnamed Lin sent his 78-year-old father to the nursing home in July 2010 and began paying the home 1,380 yuan ($215) a month in nursing fees.

On a visit to his father in June, he saw that his hands had been tied to the bed. He learned that his father had been tied up from 5 pm to 6 am every day for more than 20 days. Lin was angry and questioned the nursing home staff members, who said they had tied the man's hands because they were worried he would fall out of the bed at night.

Local people thought it wasn't right for the nursing home to tie up old residents and local government departments said that was not a proper way to take care of elderly.

(Jianghuai Morning Post)