“I used to think about going to a nursing home when I got old, but now I can just go downstairs for meals and rehabilitation, which is much more comfortable than going to a nursing home!” said 73-year-old Aunt Zhou with a smile. Nowadays, many communities have added a “senior care station”—embedded elderly care institutions—allowing seniors to enjoy attentive care without leaving their familiar homes. This form of “home-based elderly care” is becoming a new choice for more and more seniors. Walking into the elderly care institution in Aunt Zhou’s community, the cozy atmosphere is evident in the small space. The dining area by the wall is filled with the aroma of food, and staff are serving meals to the elderly, with two meat dishes, one vegetable dish, and soup, all soft and easy to chew, particularly suitable for the elderly’s taste. “I used to cook porridge at home by myself, but now I come here every day for meals, which are nutritious enough, and I can chat with my old friends,” Aunt Zhou said. If someone has mobility issues, they can just make a phone call to have meals delivered, which is much easier than cooking for themselves. In addition to meals, rehabilitation services are a “basic need” for the elderly. The institution is equipped with massage chairs, therapeutic devices, and professional rehabilitation therapists on duty.69-year-old Grandpa Li, who had a stroke last year, has had trouble with his left leg. Previously, he needed his son to accompany him to the hospital for rehabilitation every week, which took up most of the day. Since the community established the elderly care institution, he comes every morning for half an hour of leg training, and the rehabilitation therapist teaches him small exercises to do at home. “Now I can walk slowly by myself, without bothering my children, saving both money and effort,” Grandpa Li said, trying to take a few steps with a look of satisfaction on his face. Daily care is also very thoughtful. The institution has a daytime care area where seniors can rest, read, or play chess during the day, and staff regularly help with blood pressure and blood sugar checks; if someone feels unwell, they can promptly contact a community doctor for a home visit. 81-year-old Grandma Wang’s children live far away, and last month she accidentally fell. It was the institution’s staff who came to her home every day to change her dressings and tidy up until she could get up. “With them around, I feel at ease, and my children don’t have to worry about me all the time,” Grandma Wang expressed her gratitude.Compared to traditional nursing homes, the biggest advantage of community embedded institutions is their “proximity to home.” Seniors do not have to say goodbye to the homes they have lived in for decades, nor do they have to leave their familiar neighbors. If they want to go home to get something or check on their plants, they can return anytime; children passing by after work can also stop by to see their parents and have a meal together. Aunt Zhou often says, “In the morning, I do rehabilitation and have meals at the institution, in the afternoon I go home to knit sweaters for my grandson, and in the evening I come back to dance with my old friends. My days are fulfilling and carefree.” This mode of elderly care also alleviates worries for children. Many young people have to work during the day and do not have time to care for their parents. With community elderly care institutions, they no longer have to worry about their parents being alone at home and having accidents. “I used to worry about my mom being home alone without anyone to take care of her, but now I know she can eat well and have fun downstairs, which makes me feel much more at ease while I work,” a resident expressed the sentiments of many children. Nowadays, more and more communities have such embedded elderly care institutions, and the services are becoming increasingly comprehensive.