- By Supratik Das
- Fri, 10 Oct 2025 09:25 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
A northern Chinese nursing home has sparked nationwide outrage after a video showing a staff member dancing in a miniskirt to encourage elderly residents to take their medicine went viral. The incident has raised questions about ethical boundaries in elderly care.
As reported by the South China Morning Post, the video was originally shared on the facility’s verified social media account on September 24. The short clip features a woman dressed in a school uniform-style outfit with black knee-high socks, performing an energetic and provocative dance in front of a seated male resident. The post caption read, “Our director is doing whatever it takes to encourage the elderly residents to take their medicine.” Following the dance, another staff member in formal attire administers the medication to the resident.
The nursing home, according to its online profile, marks itself as “a joyful retirement home run by a post-90s director, deeply committed to bringing happiness to the elderly.” Its mission statement emphasizes improving the quality of life for seniors, but the video has triggered criticism from netizens who accused the facility of prioritizing social media clicks over genuine care.
Mixed Reactions From Public and Nursing Home Staff
One social media user questioned, “Has suggestive dancing now entered the elderly care industry?” The nursing home account responded: “Everything can be related to suggestive dance.” On September 25, the director of the nursing home spoke to Nanguo Metropolis Daily, acknowledging that the video was “inappropriate” and promising to remind staff to exercise greater caution in future promotional materials. The director clarified that the woman in the video is a care staff member, not a professional dancer, and that the facility typically provides traditional forms of entertainment, including card games and singing.
A staff member added that the intent behind the videos was to challenge stereotypes about nursing homes, showing them as lively spaces where seniors can be engaged and active. However, the team recognized that the approach had unintended consequences, leading to public backlash.
Videos Removed Amid Growing Criticism
Following the controversy, the nursing home deleted over 100 related videos from its social media accounts. Staff from the Elderly Services Section of the Anyang Civil Affairs Bureau have announced they will investigate the incident and release findings to the public.
China’s ageing population continues to rise, with over 310 million people aged 60 and above by the end of 2024, accounting for 22 percent of the total population, according to the National Bureau of Statistics. The incident has reignited debate on the responsibilities of elderly care facilities, the role of entertainment in senior wellbeing, and the ethical limits of social media promotion.
Netizens became furious, with one commenting, “Innovation is fine, but there must be limits.” Another wrote, “These are seniors with health issues; what if someone gets hurt?” Some questioned whether the videos were truly about healthcare or a ploy for profit.