Community makes serving seniors a priority

HANGZHOU — Sitting in her cozy apartment, 86-year-old Zhou Jihua gently touched the sleek black wristband on her arm. "This little device has helped me a lot," she says.

When she fainted earlier this year, a simple press of the red SOS button on her wristband summoned help to her door within minutes.

The smart wristband is part of a decadeslong journey at the Cuiyuan No 1 Community, a neighborhood in Hangzhou, capital of Zhejiang province, to improve the lives of elderly residents.

In 2002, the community took the first steps toward supporting its senior residents with charmingly low-tech solutions. Volunteers partnered with elderly people living alone, and gave them yellow ribbons and small red lights.

If they needed help, mostly simple things like changing light bulbs, the seniors could hang the yellow ribbon on the balcony during the day, or use the red light at night, Zhou says. She was a volunteer herself after retirement, routinely patrolling the neighborhood and knocking on doors to offer help.

In 2016, a full-coverage surveillance camera system was introduced in the neighborhood, enabling staff to identify emergencies in public areas.

Today, smart wristbands distributed to more than 2,200 seniors aged 60 and over represent the latest iteration of this care system. The devices, which have an SOS button and health monitoring capabilities, connect directly to a 24-hour community monitoring center and emergency contacts. They also track vital signs and alert medical personnel in case of anomalies.

"Our commitment to caring for the elderly has been consistent, but our methods have evolved with technology. From yellow ribbons to smart wristbands, we've come a long way," says Xiang Feifei, Party chief of the community.

This dedication mirrors the country's efforts to improve elderly care services. With more than 290 million people aged 60 and over at the end of last year — over 21 percent of the population — China faces pressing challenges in meeting the needs of its seniors.

A Ministry of Civil Affairs survey revealed that 22.1 percent of elderly individuals require meal assistance services, making it a critical aspect of home-based care. In response, the ministry, in tandem with other government bodies, released an action plan in October to significantly increase the coverage of meal assistance services across the country by the end of 2025.

The Cuiyuan No 1 Community has been at the forefront of this initiative. In 2003, it set up Zhejiang's first senior canteen, which has undergone three major upgrades over the years. Today, it covers 220 square meters and accommodates around 50 diners, and offers a variety of affordable meal options. The canteen now has a smart digital system that provides personalized meal recommendations based on individual health needs.

"I've seen the community's dedication in the changes to the canteen," says Chen Quanfu, who has dined there every day for over 15 years.

Earlier this month, some 300 measures were unveiled at a key Communist Party of China leadership plenum to push for deeper reform, pledging to develop community-based facilities to improve the supply of basic elderly care services.

"Our goal has always been to address the most immediate concerns of our senior residents," Xiang says. "We're constantly looking for ways to improve their quality of life."

Xinhua