Published on: 2026-04-29
Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian –
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
Beijing, April 29 /Xinhua/ — A political document aimed at promoting the development of elderly care services based on mutual assistance among the elderly has been made public in China in connection with the country’s activation of efforts to address problems related to population aging and to meet the increasingly diverse needs of elderly citizens, the Ministry of Civil Affairs of the PRC announced on Wednesday.
As of the end of last year, China had more than 320 million residents aged 60 and older, which accounted for 23 percent of the total population. Over the next decade, this number is expected to exceed 400 million people. As a result, aging is becoming an increasingly pressing nationwide problem.
In the document published by the Ministry of Civil Administration of the SNC jointly with 10 other government agencies, it is stated that care for the elderly based on mutual assistance is defined as voluntary non-commercial services provided through mutual help between neighbors or residents of the same village or neighborhood.
According to the document, by 2030, at least 70 percent of urban neighborhoods and villages must be equipped with institutions for elderly care, capable of providing services based on mutual assistance.
In addition, it is planned to create a working mechanism of regular visits and provision of care services for the elderly in particularly difficult situations, thereby significantly strengthening the sustainability of these services.
The document contains a call for the development of home mutual aid services supported by neighborhoods, including the formation of volunteer groups to assist elderly people in such matters as nutrition, hygiene, trips, and emergency assistance.
In addition, the country will encourage the development of professional service operators in order to improve the quality of service and its long-term viability.
Efforts will be made to develop services for elderly care based on mutual assistance in rural areas, taking into account local conditions. In particular, by reconstructing existing facilities such as nursing homes in villages, rural elderly care centers, and unused school buildings, mutual assistance centers focused on the needs of elderly people will be created.
Please note; this information is raw content, obtained directly from the source of information. It represents an accurate report of what the source claims, and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.