【新思想引领新征程】绘就幸福“夕阳红” 持续增进民生福祉

CCTV.com reports (Xinwen Lianbo): Elderly care is both a family matter and a matter of state. General Secretary Xi Jinping has pointed out that China has already entered an aging society, and that ensuring older people are cared for, live happily, and enjoy health and longevity is our shared aspiration. The Communist Party of China Central Committee attaches great importance to elderly care services, and policies must be fully implemented to benefit more older people. Acting on the General Secretary's requirements, localities are accelerating the diversified development of elderly care undertakings, providing services with dedication and compassion, and continuing to improve people's well-being.

More than 110 older people live at Yinling Senior Apartments in Beijing's Xicheng District. Ahead of this year's Spring Festival, General Secretary Xi Jinping visited them and conveyed his regards. He called on Party committees and governments at all levels to coordinate all types of resources, expand and improve elderly care services and sustain their development, and strive to create better conditions for older people to enjoy happy later years.

Continuing to develop inclusive and accessible elderly care services, Beijing has established 168 subdistrict- and township-level regional elderly care service centers, more than 1,500 community elderly care service stations, and nearly 3,000 meal service sites for older people. In addition to having general practitioners on staff, Yinling Senior Apartments has formed a medical consortium with a nearby tertiary general hospital, providing better support for residents' health examinations, rehabilitation training, and daily care.

By the end of 2025, China had more than 320 million people aged 60 and above. General Secretary Xi Jinping attaches great importance to elderly care services. He has pointed out that, as China's population becomes increasingly aged, older people must be able to enjoy happy later years, and that vigorous efforts must be made to develop elderly care undertakings and industries, public elderly care institutions, and inclusive elderly care services.

By the end of 2025, the number of elderly care institutions and facilities in China had reached 396,000, with nursing beds accounting for 67.5% of beds in elderly care institutions. Public elderly care institutions had essentially achieved coverage at the county level. In the opening year of the 15th Five-Year Plan period, localities and departments, from the central to the local level, are actively responding to population aging and promoting care, enjoyment, and opportunities for older people to contribute.

This year, the Guidelines for the Construction and Management of a Three-Tier Urban and Rural Elderly Care Service Network were released. They specify that a three-tier network covering urban and rural areas—at the county, township or subdistrict, and village or community levels—should be largely established by 2029. The elderly care service network close to people's homes is being integrated at an accelerating pace.

In cities, community-based home care services are steadily improving. Through home visits provided by their communities, older people can enjoy convenient services in areas including meals, medical care, and care for those who cannot look after themselves. Gu Hecai, an elderly resident within the service area of Luban Community in Nanning, Guangxi, receives medical and nursing services at home every week, with all costs covered by the medical insurance long-term care insurance fund. At the community's comprehensive elderly care service center, the physical conditions of older people from more than 900 nearby contracted households and the service routes of care workers are clearly displayed, and an automatic alert is issued if anything unusual occurs.

In rural areas, meanwhile, the foundations of elderly care are weak and the tasks substantial, making it crucial to address service shortcomings. Fujian Province is advancing the construction of township-centered Xingfuli communities, converting unused school buildings, office buildings, or vacant land into elderly care communities, or building new ones. In the mountainous city of Nanping, the Xingfuli community in Lanxia Township recently opened. It has more than 20 senior apartments and gives priority to older people living alone or left behind in remote and depopulated villages.

To make later life rich and varied, China is vigorously developing the silver economy. Wenjiang District in Chengdu, Sichuan, is home to more than 80 silver economy enterprises. From smart rehabilitation equipment to accessible mobility aids, their more than 4,000 types of products adapted for older people meet a wide range of elderly care needs.

Traveling and sightseeing on special trains for older people, and enjoying wellness stays amid green mountains and clear waters, are becoming new choices for more seniors. This year, Huangshan City introduced support policies and residential travel packages, offering older people discounts on scenic attraction admission, meals and accommodation, transportation, and other services.

The aim is for all older people to enjoy happy later years. Under the plan, China's elderly care service network will be largely established by 2029. By 2035, the network will be more comprehensive, service supply and demand will be better coordinated and matched, and an elderly care service system suited to China's national conditions will have matured and taken its established form.