China has expanded its elderly care services over recent years to cope with its rapidly aging population, with a particular emphasis on the development of at-home and community-based care.
As of the end of June this year, the country had built a total of 410,000 elderly care institutions and facilities, doubling the level in 2019, the data from the Ministry of Civil Affairs showed on Monday.
Of these, 369,000 were community-based elderly care institutions and facilities, marking a 120-percent increase over 2019.
The country has also stepped up efforts to cultivate elderly care talents. As of the end of 2023, colleges and universities nationwide had opened more than 770 majors related to nursing and elderly care service management.
From 2020 to 2022, the country trained a total of 2.48 million professional elderly care workers, 10,000 nursing home directors, and 100,000 full-time and part-time senior social workers.
"Going forward, the Ministry of Civil Affairs and the Office of the National Working Committee on Aging will promote the transformation of the work related to senior citizens towards people's whole-life-cycle preparation for elderly care. We will also coordinate and improve the social security, elderly care service and health support systems, optimize the elderly assistance and social welfare systems, deepen the reform and development of elderly care services, expand the scale and impact of the 'Silver Age Action', and guide senior citizens to actively participate in social activities," Liao Ming, deputy director of the elderly care service department of the Ministry of Civil Affairs, said at a press conference in Beijing on Monday.
The "Silver Age Action" is an initiative launched in 2003 with the goal of leveraging the expertise and knowledge of senior professionals across different domains to assist in the development of underdeveloped areas.
Official data showed that there were 297 million people aged 60 and above in the country at the end of 2023, accounting for 21.1 percent of the total population. The number of people aged 65 and above reached 217 million, or 15.4 percent of the total.
China improves elderly care services to cope with rapidly aging population
The Iranian government is focusing on public concerns and maintaining stable supplies of essential goods amid recent protests, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said in a televised interview on Sunday.
In the city of Karaj, northwest of the capital Tehran, daily life has largely continued as normal. A video filmed by a local resident on Sunday shows food stores open and grocery shelves fully stocked.
"This is the block near my home, and there are some food stores here. Daily life continues here. Last night we did not see many protests in Karaj. Right now the city is very safe. This is a grocery store close to my home. All the food is available; nothing is in shortage. Here are noodles and different types of beans. Here are dairy products, cheese, and yogurt. I also checked other grocery stores and didn't see any shortages. Everything is available," said local resident Ali Reza.
Iranian officials have described recent disturbances as acts orchestrated by the "enemy," including some carried out by well-trained and armed "terrorists." The incidents have caused casualties among security personnel and civilians, as well as property damage.
The Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council Ali Larijani has directed authorities to severely punish the "terrorists."
Meanwhile, Iran's police chief Ahmad-Reza Radan said on Sunday that the police had raised alert levels and arrested several leaders of the troublemakers during the operations on Saturday.
President Pezeshkian noted in the interview that the normal demands of the Iranian people are reasonable and justified, but they must realize that triggering riots and carrying out terrorist acts are the enemy's attempts to undermine the country. He urged the public to remain vigilant.
Also on Sunday, Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf warned that Tehran would regard U.S. and Israeli bases and facilities in the Middle East as "legitimate targets" if Washington takes military action against Iran. His remarks followed media reports saying U.S. President Donald Trump is "seriously considering authorizing a strike" against Iran.
Iranian state media reported that at least 109 members of Iran's security forces have been killed in clashes since the protests began 14 days ago. Meanwhile, human rights groups based outside the country said the number of protesters killed has exceeded 200, though the figure could not be independently verified.
The protests initially erupted over a sharp depreciation of the rial and sweeping subsidy reforms. Iranian authorities have blamed the unrest on foreign-linked agents and sanctions imposed by the United States.
Iranian president says government focusing on ensuring supplies amid protests
