Certainly, the volunteers will leave the campus after they graduate from university, but they never neglect their duty to take care of Grandma Zou. The president of the Volunteer Association, Chen Bin, introduced that every year new volunteers would be recruited and trained by the older members, and when the older members graduate, the new volunteers are already very experienced. In three years, the number of volunteers taking care of Grandma Zou has grown from 5 to over 20.
On November 16th, the volunteers received a thank-you letter written by Grandma Zou on her deathbed and entrusted to a neighbor. When the volunteers read the sentence "Children, you are not family but better than family, thank you for your many years of care," they couldn't help but burst into tears.
According to the service agreement, the volunteers only need to visit once a week, but Grandma Zou's enthusiasm and anticipation led them to decide that whenever they have no class, they would all take turns to accompany the elderly. Over time, everyone regarded Grandma as family. If they had difficulties in study or troubles in life, they would immediately confide in Grandma. Even when they found boyfriends or girlfriends, they would bring them to Grandma for her blessing.
Hearing this, the volunteers all cried. "In the end, what Grandma thought about and missed was us!" Chen Bin told the reporter that in the Yunlu Garden community, there are currently 8 households of "empty-nest elders" who need care, and they will turn Grandma's gratitude into motivation to serve other elders. "We hope everyone can lend a hand to the 'empty-nest elders.' A smile, an accompaniment, will move them for a long time."
Grandma Zou had no children, and after her husband died many years ago, she lived alone. Three years ago, the Yunlu Garden community listed Grandma Zou as a "empty-nest elder" service target, and since then, the student volunteers have brought much laughter and joy to Grandma Zou's home.
"At the time, she already had little strength, but she still tightly held my hand, asking me to definitely help her fulfill this wish. She said that for so many years, the children brought too much happiness." Thus, Teacher Hu carefully thought for several days before writing the letter.
On November 5th, Grandma Zou's condition suddenly worsened, and she passed away. The volunteers and the elderly's relatives arranged the funeral together. On the 16th, Mr. Hu Shengxiang, the building manager of Xiyuan Building 19, handed the thank-you letter to the volunteers.
Senior volunteer Li Shuai began caring for Grandma Zou from his first year at university and is the one who has served the longest. His insight is: serving "empty-nest elders" is not just about doing housework, but more about talking with the elders.
For a full 10 days, the Central South University Youth Volunteer Association "Empty-Nest Elder Service Team" volunteers would habitually rush to Grandma Zou's home on the second floor of Xiyuan Building 19 as soon as the school bell rang, but now, the empty room no longer sees Grandma Zou's smile.
Volunteer Xie Dongrong remembers that every summer he would see Grandma Zou wearing a wool cap at home, initially finding it strange, but later realizing that because of her poor health, she couldn't use fans or air conditioning in the summer. However, to prevent the volunteers from being hot, she turned on the air conditioning and fans and wore a hat herself.
During a festival, everyone bought Grandma Zou a box of elderly milk powder and honey, but unexpectedly, Grandma Zou got very angry. "She shoved the items into our arms and drove us away, sternly saying that if we buy things next time, we shouldn't come." Only then did everyone realize that originally, Grandma loved spending money on the children.
After surgery, Grandma Zou was always connected to an oxygen tube and could not turn her body. The volunteers made a schedule based on their free time, each taking turns to watch over her in the hospital. Since Grandma Zou suffered a fractured waist bone, she had difficulty with bowel and bladder control, so the volunteers helped her with these needs. Seeing volunteer Ge Zhonglei roll up his sleeves and work, Grandma Zou appeared somewhat embarrassed, and Ge Zhonglei quickly reassured her: "You're my real grandma, aren't these things that a grandson should do?"
In the hands of the Volunteer Association President, Chen Bin, there is a notebook titled "Matters to Note When Caring for Grandma Zou," filled with notes such as "When accompanying Grandma to the hospital by bus, she may feel uncomfortable; you can talk to her or find her a comfortable position" and "Grandma's stomach isn't good, don't let her eat too much food or drink too many beverages." Every new volunteer coming in would carefully read through it.
When Grandma Zou fell at home at the end of October and was severely injured, volunteer Wang Zaihong immediately sent the elderly to the hospital with other volunteers. After examination, Grandma Zou's waist bone was shattered, requiring immediate surgery, and they immediately gathered all the volunteers to discuss how to take care of her.
During the days Grandma Zou lay in bed, the group massaged her, washed her clothes, gave her sponge baths, and helped with bowel and bladder control daily. The patients around her envied her, saying, "Grandma, you're truly blessed to have such filial grandchildren!" Her words moved Grandma Zou to tears. Later, when the patients discovered that those coming to attend were student volunteers, they were even more impressed, exclaiming, "They are all true grandsons!"
Li Shuai's first visit to Grandma Zou's house made him nervous because he didn't know how to do housework and wondered what he could do to help the elderly. But upon entering, Grandma Zou's smile put him at ease: "Grandma Zou always said, you coming to see me is the best kind of care."
Accompanying is the best form of care.