A staff member of a local elderly care group trains bathing assistants in Tianjin, north China, Oct. 23, 2025. (Xinhua/Bao Qingling)

In a modest apartment in the Hexi District of north China's Tianjin Municipality, 86-year-old Granny Li closed her eyes as warm water gently cascaded over her frail body. For the first time in months, she felt truly clean and truly seen.

This transformation was made possible by Lin Ru, a bathing assistant whose work goes beyond hygiene to touch the very soul of dignity in aging.

At 9 a.m. on a crisp autumn day, Lin arrived punctually at Granny Li's home. With practiced efficiency, she turned up the heating, inflated a portable bathtub, and, with the family's help, lifted the elderly woman, who suffers from chronic back pain, into the warm water.

"I only have sons, so it's awkward for them to bathe me. I usually just wipe myself with a damp towel," Li confessed, her voice tinged with embarrassment.

Over the next hour, Lin's clothes became soaked with sweat, but Li gradually relaxed, emerging refreshed after her hair was dried and body toweled off.

Lin, who began this work after caring for her own grandparents, has witnessed the subtle, often hidden emotions of the elderly.

"For bedridden or mobility-impaired seniors, bathing becomes a 'heartache' for both them and their families," Lin said. "A hot bath isn't just about physical comfort -- it's about dignity."

This sentiment echoes broader challenges in elderly care, where neglect can lead to profound dignity loss, as highlighted in similar cases across China.

Lin recalled one particularly poignant example -- an elderly woman, once vibrant and sociable, grew deeply depressed after being confined to bed. Learning of her love for flowers, Lin brought her a potted plant.

"The room suddenly feels alive," the woman had exclaimed, her spirits instantly lifted, Lin recounted.

Fellow bathing assistant Wei Yanping emphasized the psychological aspect of their work: "Spiritual solace matters more than physical cleansing."

To put elders at ease, Wei tailors her approach -- discussing education when the elderly person is a former teacher, or singing and reading poetry to those seniors who've lost the ability to communicate.

Similarly, 56-year-old Wei Chunjiang reflected on her own future: "I have only one daughter, but with the 'silver economy' growing, I'm confident that when I need help, someone will be there for me."

This growing industry -- supported by national policies, is transforming care standards.

Official data reveals that by late 2024, China's population aged 60 and above had reached 310 million, accounting for 22 percent of the total.

The central government rolled out a five-year plan focused on the national aging cause and elderly care system in 2022, promoting community bathing points and mobile services. Tianjin's local guidelines, notably, also encourage in-home assistance.

Li Hongyu, operations manager of a local elderly care group, noted that such support is fueling rapid growth in elderly care services -- making "dignity in aging" a new norm.

Lin's work sometimes carries a bittersweet weight. She has fond memories of the "flower-loving auntie" whom she visited one morning with a new plant. "She had a good appetite that day -- eating steamed buns and fruit, and even got a radio," Lin recalled, her eyes glistening.

Not long after, she learned that the woman had passed away. "But it comforts me to know she left this world clean and dignified."