How do artists' lives change when they leave the Nursing Home and move to a new home?

On February 27, Thi Nghe Nursing Home (Binh Thanh District, Ho Chi Minh City) held a ceremony to receive artists from the District 8 Stage Artist Nursing Home to live here. Initially, it was expected that 7 artists would move to the new place, including Dieu Hien, Ngoc Dang, Ngoc Be, Lam Son, Le Tham, Hoa Tranh and stage worker Dang Thi Xuan.

However, artist Le Tham suddenly passed away before Tet due to old age and poor health. Artist Hoa Tranh asked to return to her relatives' house to live, so only 5 artists were left to move to Thi Nghe Nursing Center.

Also on this occasion, artists Mac Can and Huynh Thanh Tra were also given the opportunity to live at the Center.

People's Artist Kim Cuong encouraged cai luong artist Dieu Hien to try to adapt to her new place.

The elderly artists were welcomed to the Thi Nghe Nursing Home for care according to the decision of the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee. Initially, the Committee planned to move the artists to a new residence in December 2023. However, the artists wished to stay at the District 8 Nursing Home to celebrate the Lunar New Year 2024.

According to the artists’ plan and wishes, on February 27, the veteran artists were transferred to their new residence. The reception ceremony was attended by city leaders and agencies, demonstrating the state’s concern for the artists living here.

Sharing with VTC News reporters about the activities and policies to care for artists who have contributed to the city's culture and arts this time, Ms. Thanh Thuy - Deputy Director of the Department of Culture and Sports (VH&TT) of Ho Chi Minh City said: "I feel very happy because after a long time, the agencies and departments have made great efforts to find solutions so that the uncles and aunts at the Nursing Home can have a new, better place to live, which has been completed today. Especially, Mr. Huynh Thanh Tra and Mac Can can return home together in one day, which is very meaningful."

Artist Mac Can was also given the opportunity to live here after many years of struggling outside.

It can be said that although the agencies and departments want to create more favorable conditions for the artists' lives when moving to a new, more spacious place with better care conditions, moving the artists from the District 8 Nursing Home to the Thi Nghe Nursing Center is not an easy task.

Because this is the common home of artists who have been together for nearly 30 years, where they have experienced all the flavors of life, from bitterness, sweetness and loss, so no one wants to leave.

Artist Phuong Loan, a member of the Artists' Association, said that before moving the artists to Thi Nghe Nursing Home, those responsible for moving the artists' accommodation surveyed the quality and facilities of the accommodation here, which were better, and only after comforting the artists in the Nursing Home did they agree to move.

According to artist Phuong Loan, here everyone has their own room, with a bathroom in the room, convenient for daily activities. In particular, health care and medical care are also better than the District 8 Nursing Home.

“Every day, there are nurses, caregivers and doctors taking care of the artists. This is also the main reason why the Artists’ Association and the Theater Association want the artists to move to a new place,” artist Phuong Loan shared with VTC News.

All of the artist's belongings were brought to the new residence.

On her last day at the Nursing Home, artist Ngoc Dang sat absent-mindedly, looking back at the place she had been attached to for 30 years.

To ensure that the artists do not feel lost when they move to a new place, People's Artist Trinh Kim Chi said that on February 26 and 27, personal belongings and facilities in the artists' rooms at Thi Nghe Nursing Center have been prepared. Although there are still some conditions that need to be adjusted accordingly, such as lowering the beds, the entertainment room will have a TV, tea table, etc. for the artists to welcome audiences and colleagues who come to visit.

In particular, the altar of the ancestors and the altar of the late artist Phung Ha were moved here in accordance with the wishes of the veteran artists to burn incense for their ancestors every day.

Artist Trinh Kim Chi shared: “Since officially moving in, the artists have felt more secure. Coming here to meet, interact and interact with many elderly people living in the Nursing Home, the artists' spirits are also happy. The living space and care conditions are also better, so the artists' families are also at ease.”

In addition, People's Artist Trinh Kim Chi denied the information that artists living here will be restricted from meeting relatives and colleagues. There is a separate garden area for artists to meet people.

People's Artist Trinh Kim Chi coaxed and convinced the artists to move to a new place.

As for Thi Nghe Nursing Center, Ms. Nguyen Thanh Cua - Deputy Director of the Center said that the unit is not pressured or worried when receiving artists here for care.

She said: “I am only worried about the elderly’s psychology when they are not used to the new environment. The elderly have been at the Artists Nursing Home for a long time, so moving to a new place will inevitably cause them to be worried and anxious. Since the elderly have come here, we have visited the room to ask about their health and encourage them to feel secure. The elderly will be assured of their eating and sleeping hours here because they follow the standard regimen prescribed by doctors.”

The Center has an on-site medical care department, with doctors from Binh Thanh Hospital and Nguyen Trai Hospital coming to check up every week and monthly. The Center's great advantage is that the nurses all have over 10 years of experience in caring for the elderly, from medical to psychological expertise.

Ms. Hong Lan, a nurse with 16 years of experience, is taking care of the new artists who have come to the center this time. She said she feels happy but also very pressured because most of the elderly have many psychological problems. As someone who has worked for many years, she understands the kind of care and attention the elderly need.

Each person has a different personality, but I can adjust my mentality and have the most appropriate way of caring for them. As for the newly accepted artists, I will try harder to take the best care of them.

The nursing team is responsible for taking care of the health and daily activities of veteran artists.

Artists at their new residence in Thi Nghe Nursing Center, Binh Thanh District, Ho Chi Minh City.

Recently, with the news that artists have new places to live, many people are worried about the District 8 Artists Nursing Home being abolished. Will artists with difficult circumstances in the future be given the opportunity to live in a nursing home as their predecessors wished?

Responding to this issue, Ms. Thanh Thuy - Deputy Director of the Department of Culture and Sports of Ho Chi Minh City said that the Department of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs was assigned by the City People's Committee to develop a project to reorganize Thi Nghe Nursing Center.

This will include restructuring many things, from personnel, organizational structure, facilities and care conditions, funding sources, spending levels, etc. After the project is submitted and approved by the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee, the area where the artists are staying at the Center will be called "Artist Nursing Home".

This will be a place of residence for artists not only in the field of theater but also in the field of literature and art, but still have to ensure the criteria of being elderly, from a difficult family, single, having made contributions...

The Artists' Nursing Home no longer exists, but the care for artists in difficult circumstances continues to be maintained with better living conditions.

Trinh Trang

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