Rural nursing homes must get support

A deadly fire that claimed 11 lives shows that many nursing homes are poorly equipped, according to an editorial in Beijing News (excerpts below).

A number of surveys have shown that nursing homes lack basic facilities.

Some don't even have exits and others have only one fire extinguisher.

Lack of finance is a problem and many homes are situated in rural areas far from the population centers.

In one nursing home in Jiangxi province, the annual budget for every male inmate is only 200 yuan ($33).

It is time for local governments to support nursing homes and ensure the basic facilities and trained personnel.