Nursing homes in Shanghai are providing online medical services and setting up smart medical devices that allow seniors to receive top-tier healthcare without the need to leave their homes.
Cui Ronggen, 68, who underwent heart bypass surgery, has been living in a nursing home in Shanghai for six months. Recently, caregivers noticed fluctuations in his blood pressure and chest pain. Thanks to the facility's adoption of cutting-edge technology, Cui was able to consult with specialists from a leading hospital remotely via a 5G telemedicine computer cart.
"The 5G telemedicine cart enables remote consultations and online diagnosis. These things can be done through this device once the patient's appointment is scheduled with a medical expert. In the past, seniors had to travel to hospitals with family members, wait in line, and go through lengthy procedures, which is time-consuming and exhausting. Now, with this device, families can feel at ease, and seniors don't even need to leave the nursing home. It enriches the medical services in the nursing home and brings high-quality resources from the city's best hospitals directly to the elders here," said Xu Wen, director of the nursing home.
The shift toward a tech-enabled care system is part of a broader trend nationwide as China grapples with aging population. According to the Ministry of Civil Affairs, by the end of 2024, China's population of seniors aged 65 and above reached 220 million. This growing demographic has spurred the development of new models for elderly care, which emphasizes technology-assisted services to complement traditional care methods.
Shanghai has been at the forefront of combining online medical services with elderly care since 2021. Today, seniors in many of the city's nursery homes can access to online registration, consultations and remote medical services. After diagnosis, prescribed medications would be delivered directly to the nursing home. Additionally, the nursing home's medical center can conduct follow-up tests, such as electrocardiogram, based on the online consultation results.
"The online platform is convenient and efficient. It allows seniors to get medical treatment as early as possible," said Lu Jinlin, a resident.
In addition to online treatment, Shanghai is also exploring the use of robotics in elderly care.
"We believe seniors should benefit from the convenience of digitalization, including future applications like humanoid robots and specialized care robots, which can help address the current shortage of caretakers. What we see are hardware advancements, but what truly matters is the service behind them. The goal is to offer seniors a better, warmer and premium living experience through heartfelt care," said Li Zhiwei, director of the Department of Aging and Elderly Care Services under the Civil Affairs Bureau of Pudong New Area.
Shanghai’s nursing homes enhance elderly care with advanced technologies
