China will upgrade facilities and improve the quality and effectiveness of its elderly care services, with the goal of establishing a three-tier service network within five years, Minister of Civil Affairs Lu Zhiyuan said on Saturday.
Lu made the statement at a press conference for the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) on people's livelihood in Beijing.
"In terms of upgrading facilities, China will continue to build a county-level comprehensive elderly care service management platform over the next five years. The country will also expand the functions of regional elderly care service centers and broaden the coverage of village and community-level care sites based on local conditions. The goal is to establish a three-tiered elderly care service system at the village, township and county levels by the end of the 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026-2030)," Lu said.
"In terms of quality improvement, efforts will be made to step up the updating of equipment in elderly care institutions, strengthen special training for elderly care personnel, develop elderly care technology, and enhance the quality and safety management of elderly care services to better ensure care for the elderly," said Lu.
He noted that the country will continue to expand the coverage of public-benefit elderly care institutions.
"China will cultivate professional, chain-brand operators in the elderly care service market, vigorously develop home-based elderly care services at the village and community level, and support the development of mutual-aid elderly care services. We will improve the care system for seniors who are functionally impaired, and carry out regular visits and care services for elderly people with special difficulties, including those who live alone, at the village and community level," Lu said.
China vows to set up three-tier elderly care service network in five years
