The Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the State Council promulgated the Opinions on Promoting the Construction of Basic Elderly Care Service System on May 21.
Given the fundamental importance of basic elderly care in executing China’s national strategy on aging, this policy document outlined key objectives for all levels of government to achieve by 2025.
First, authorities will formulate and fully implement a catalog of basic elderly care services, clearly stipulating recipients, service items, and service standards.
Second, the government will establish a nationwide statistical system to comprehensively assess and monitor the health status of senior citizens. Concurrently, unified national assessment standards will be developed and improved.
Third, increased fiscal expenditures will subsidize seniors from disadvantaged socioeconomic backgrounds.
The issuance of this directive underscores the government’s resolve in developing a robust elderly care system responsive to the needs of China’s aging population.
By systematically strengthening services, standardizing practices, and channeling funding to the underprivileged elderly, the basic elderly care service system aims to provide a modicum of security and comfort for China’s most vulnerable seniors.
