A Chinese nursing home faced backlash after posting a video of a female staff member dancing provocatively to encourage elderly residents to take their medication. -- Photo: SCMP composite/Douyin
BEIJING (SCMP): A nursing home in northern China has provoked public outrage after posting a video of a senior staff member performing a provocative dance in a miniskirt in front of elderly residents, allegedly to encourage them to take their medicine.
On September 24, a verified social media account for a nursing home in Anyang, Henan province, shared a clip featuring a woman in a short miniskirt dancing suggestively in front of a seated elderly man.
The caption read: “Our director is doing whatever it takes to encourage the elderly residents to take their medicine.”
In the video, the woman is dressed in a school uniform-style outfit paired with black knee-high socks, dancing energetically while gyrating her hips. Another staff member in a blue uniform then approaches the male resident to administer medication.
According to the nursing home’s online profile, it claims to be “a joyful retirement home run by a post-90s director, deeply committed to bringing happiness to the elderly.”
“Our mission is to enhance the quality of life in old age,” the profile states.
The post immediately ignited heated online debate.
One netizen remarked: “Has suggestive dancing now entered the elderly care industry?”
The account replied directly: “Everything can be related to suggestive dance.”
On September 25, the nursing home director told Nanguo Metropolis Daily that the woman in the video was responsible for elderly care at the facility.
One video depicts a dancer in a miniskirt performing, after which a formally dressed staff member approaches a male resident to administer his medication. -- Photo: Handout
While acknowledging that the video was “inappropriate,” the director indicated that he would remind the senior staff in the video to exercise greater caution in future.
He emphasised that although the woman occasionally appears in promotional videos, she is not a professional dancer, and the nursing home typically provides traditional forms of entertainment, such as card games and singing.
Another staff member later explained that the videos of the dance in question were intended to challenge stereotypes about nursing homes in China.
“We aimed to show that this isn’t a lifeless place. Nursing homes can be vibrant, and the elderly can be lively too. However, we now understand this approach has pros and cons,” the staff member said.
Amid escalating public backlash, the nursing home’s social media account subsequently deleted over 100 related videos.
Staff from the Elderly Services Section of the Anyang Civil Affairs Bureau stated that they will verify the specific circumstances, and the results will be announced to the public.
According to the National Bureau of Statistics, China’s ageing population continues to expand, with over 310 million people aged 60 and above by the end of 2024, accounting for 22 per cent of the total population.
The viral video has sparked outrage, with netizens accusing the nursing home of prioritising clicks over care and objectifying elderly residents for profit.
One person commented: “Are retirement homes competing like this now? Innovation is fine, but there must be limits.”
Another added: “This is clearly seductive behaviour! These are seniors with health issues; what if someone gets a nosebleed or worse?”
A third wrote: “Are they dancing to encourage them to take medicine, or to prompt them to open their wallets? It’s obvious.” - SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST
