Enable more elderly people to have a sense of security and fulfillment in their old age
2024-10-22
Actively responding to population aging is related to the overall development of the country, the well-being of millions of people, and social harmony and stability. How to provide more elderly people with a sense of security and fulfillment in their old age? On October 21st, the Ministry of Civil Affairs held a series of special press conferences on the "Five Years of Civil Affairs" to respond to social concerns. In the past five years, China's elderly care system has been continuously improved and the level of protection has steadily increased to fill the gaps in rural elderly care services. In terms of rural elderly care services, this year, the Ministry of Civil Affairs and 22 other departments jointly issued the "Guiding Opinions on Accelerating the Development of Rural Elderly Care Services", proposing a comprehensive solution to address the shortcomings of rural elderly care services. Li Yongxin, Deputy Director of the Elderly Care Service Department of the Ministry of Civil Affairs, said, "In the past five years, the Ministry of Civil Affairs, together with relevant departments, has continuously improved policy and institutional design, coordinated the construction of the rural elderly care service system, and achieved positive results." Li Yongxin introduced that firstly, it has consolidated the grassroots foundation of rural elderly care services. Promote the establishment of a sustainable development model for village level mutual assistance and elderly care, which includes government support and guidance, village collective organization construction, mutual assistance among the elderly, and widespread social support. The second is to promote the construction of rural elderly care service networks. Expand the functions of township nursing homes and gradually transform them into regional elderly care service centers with full day care, day care, door-to-door services, regional coordination, service referral, and other functions. Give full play to the forefront role of village level mutual aid elderly care service facilities and support the development of mutual aid elderly care. The third is to strengthen the support and guarantee of rural elderly care services. Local people's governments at or above the county level are required to include the operating costs of the service facilities (nursing homes) established by the government for the support of rural extremely poor people, as well as the funds needed for the assistance and support of extremely poor people, in the fiscal budget. Strengthen the comprehensive utilization of idle rural public service facilities, prioritize the renovation into rural elderly care service places such as nursing homes, senior canteens, village level neighborhood mutual aid points, and rural happy homes. This year, an additional 300 million yuan of central government funds will be added to support 59 pilot areas in carrying out innovative pilot projects for county-level elderly care service systems, exploring the formation of an effective development model for rural elderly care services Li Yongxin said. Over the past five years, China has continuously optimized its diversified supply system for elderly care services by delivering them to the doorstep. During the 14th Five Year Plan period, the Ministry of Civil Affairs organized and implemented the action plan to improve basic elderly care services at home and in the community. It has supported the construction of 347000 family elderly care beds in 184 project areas and provided 647000 home elderly care services. It is reported that the majority of elderly people in China prefer to stay at home and "at home" elderly care. Developing home-based community elderly care services is in line with China's basic national conditions and is an important measure to care for the elderly with heart and emotion, and to enable them to enjoy a happy old age. In the past five years, the Ministry of Civil Affairs has focused on the urgent needs and concerns of the elderly, increased efforts to promote home-based community elderly care services, and achieved positive results. In terms of improving facility layout, the Ministry of Civil Affairs has guided various regions to plan and layout the construction of three-level elderly care service facilities at the county (district), township (street), and village (community) levels on a county-level basis, and has created a number of demonstration home community elderly care service networks with functional connectivity, complementary services, and regional linkage. As of the end of the second quarter of this year, there were 410000 elderly care service institutions and facilities across the country, including 369000 community elderly care service institutions and facilities, which increased by 1 and 1.2 times respectively compared to 2019. In terms of innovative service models, the Ministry of Civil Affairs guides various regions to focus on the needs of elderly groups such as elderly people living at home, disabled people, living alone, and empty nests, providing community elderly care services such as day care, short-term care, rehabilitation nursing, psychological support, etc., exploring the construction of family elderly care beds, as well as home to home services such as meal assistance, cleaning assistance, bathing assistance, walking assistance, medical assistance, and emergency assistance, to deliver the daily urgently needed elderly care services to the "doorstep" and "home" of the elderly. Next, the Ministry of Civil Affairs will accelerate the construction of a three-tier elderly care service network at the county (district), township (street), and village (community) levels, promote the convergence of elderly care service resources around, beside, and beside the elderly, and build a 15 minute home-based community elderly care service circle. At the same time, we will cultivate chain, branded, and specialized community elderly care service institutions, increase short-term care services urgently needed by the elderly, transitional adaptive services before moving into institutions, actively develop community support networks for elderly cognitive impairment, and effectively explore home professional care models Li Yongxin said. Over the past five years, the elderly in China have become more actively engaged in social participation by contributing more 'silver hair power'. Vigorously promoting elderly education, the National University for the Elderly has been officially established, and over 55000 elderly education and learning points have been set up at the grassroots level; Public cultural facilities and tourist attractions are open to the elderly for free or at a discounted price, and the aging level of cultural venues and tourist attractions continues to improve; Public sports venues are open to the elderly for free or at a low cost, and sports parks generally have senior fitness areas where the elderly actively participate in fitness activities. Liao Ming, Deputy Director of the Aging Work Department of the Ministry of Civil Affairs, introduced that in promoting the elderly to have a sense of purpose, the Ministry of Civil Affairs actively guarantees the labor, employment and entrepreneurship rights of the elderly, creates diversified and personalized employment positions suitable for the elderly, expands the scale and influence of the "Silver Age Action", and guides the elderly to actively participate in social activities. At the same time, we will vigorously develop the silver economy, strengthen the supply of elderly products and services, promote the development of new models and formats of the elderly industry, and better meet the needs of the elderly. Currently, the 'Silver Age Action' has been piloted in 5 provinces and fully implemented in 31 provinces, forming a good situation where the country, provinces, cities, and counties work together to mobilize elderly experts from various fields to carry out public welfare actions such as supporting agriculture, education, and health services. It has received widespread praise from all sectors of society and has become an important platform for promoting elderly people to have something to do and contribute to society. As of the end of July 2024, the total number of volunteers participating in the 'Silver Age Action' has exceeded 7 million, with over 4000 aid projects carried out and more than 400 million beneficiaries Liao Ming said. "The Ministry of Civil Affairs, together with the China Association for the Aged, will further improve the policies and measures to support the social participation of the elderly, create a good social environment, and constantly improve the well-being of the elderly, so that the majority of elderly people can both enjoy a happy old age, but also have a sense of security in their old age, and contribute 'silver strength' to the promotion of Chinese path to modernization." Liao Ming said. (New Society)
Edit：He Chuanning Responsible editor：Su Suiyue
Source：Guang Ming Daily
Special statement: if the pictures and texts reproduced or quoted on this site infringe your legitimate rights and interests, please contact this site, and this site will correct and delete them in time. For copyright issues and website cooperation, please contact through outlook new era email：lwxsd@liaowanghn.com
Recommended Reading Change it 
Home
