Residents have a buffet at Hongheyuan, a high-end nursing home in Haikou, Hainan province, Jan 22, 2013. The nursing home has hired nutritionists and chefs to make healthy food. [Photo/IC]

The managers of nursing home?in Tancheng in East China's Shandong province reportedly refused to allow the elderly residents to use the air conditioners as heaters despite the severe cold. The State needs to provide more help to elderly residents in rural areas, says a Beijing News editorial:

Many online comments are blaming the nursing home and its managers for failing in their duty of care. However they do not know how difficult it is for grassroots nursing homes to provide the comforts and support aged people need.

In rural regions that are not so prosperous, local governments only cover part of the financial cost of nursing homes, which have to earn money to make up the deficit. In addition, only those seniors from less well-off families choose to enter nursing homes; as a result, it is quite common for the majority of rural nursing homes to struggle with financial difficulties.

Even though the aged care industry is said to be flourishing, poor, disabled or other vulnerable senior citizens are living without ample welfare. What happened in Tancheng is only the tip of the iceberg and similar incidents are happening every day in the rural regions of China.

It is, first of all, necessary for the State to shoulder its responsibility. The elderly rural residents contributed to the nation's development when they were young, and they deserve proper welfare paid for with money from the State coffers to support their basic life.

Besides, local governments also need to be smart in providing funds for the care of the aged in rural areas. For example, instead of simply paying nursing homes, they can introduce competition into the industry and purchase the best services. The industry should also be open so that more charities can enter it.

China is an aging society and how to take care of its seniors is becoming a serious challenge. It is time the government and social organizations joined hands to prevent similar tragedies from happening.