Shanxi's new initiatives give elderly people a helping hand

Shanxi province has taken additional steps to actively respond to the needs of an aging population, ensuring the provision of more balanced basic elderly care services and steadily improving levels of elderly care security, according to a senior official in the provincial government.

"As the economy and society develop, actively responding to population aging has become an important national strategy," said Li Jianhong, director of the Shanxi Provincial Department of Civil Affairs, in a recent interview with China Daily.

Data from the department shows that by the end of 2024, the elderly population aged 60 and above reached approximately 7.79 million, an increase of about 1.18 million compared to the end of 2020. The population aged 65 and above reached about 5.42 million, an increase of 915,100 compared to figures from 2020. Shanxi is transitioning into a moderately aging society, with the elderly population proportion slightly higher than the national average.

During the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-25), Shanxi became the first province in the country to introduce local regulations on community home-based elderly care.

"The provincial government has included the construction of community elderly care service facilities in the list of livelihood projects for six consecutive years," Li said. "There are 1,291 elderly care institutions and 9,721 day care facilities in Shanxi, increasing by 29 percent and 22 percent, respectively, compared to 2020."

In addition, Shanxi has established 4,477 elderly meal assistance points, making daily elderly care services more accessible.

"We have completed the age-friendly renovation of 69,200 elderly households and achieved universal distribution of allowances for those over 80 years old," he said.

In Shanxi, 87 communities have been awarded the title of "national model age-friendly community", 32 groups have won the national "respect for the elderly civilized unit" award, and 48 individuals have been recognized as national "models for respecting, loving, and assisting the elderly".

The private sector is also playing a significant role. In 2015, Li Ailing established the first Xingfuhui community elderly care service center in Jincheng city with an investment of more than 5 million yuan ($708,422), which she had saved from 20 years of running business ventures. This marked the beginning of a new model of community-based elderly care in the region.

After a decade of development, Xingfuhui has become a renowned brand in Shanxi's elderly care industry with 10 community elderly care centers established across the province, serving over 50,000 elderly residents and providing employment for more than 600 people.

At Xingfuhui centers, every detail reflects care for the elderly, daily activities include exercise sessions, massages and entertainment, with special services offered during holidays and birthdays.

"I hope our centers can make seniors feel at home," Li Ailing said. "I am willing to dedicate the rest of my life to understanding every elderly person and to understanding ourselves during aging."

To protect the legal rights and interests of the elderly, local governments are continuously improving the departmental coordination mechanism, promoting the establishment of a full-chain work loop covering risk warning, dispute investigation and resolution, according to Zeng Qingyong, deputy director of the Shanxi Provincial Department of Civil Affairs.

"Taking the opportunity of special rectification of prominent issues in the elderly care service field, we have intensified efforts to rectify prominent issues that infringe on the legal rights and interests of the elderly in consumption, tourism, education, finance, and other fields," Zeng said. "We have cracked down on illegal fundraising, fraud, and other illegal and criminal activities harming the elderly, resolutely safeguarding their legal rights and interests."

During the 14th Five-Year Plan period, the province has been gradually improving a community home-based elderly care service system, with home-based care as the mainstay, community services as the support, market operations as the backing, and professional services as the guarantee.

Till date, Shanxi has organized 261 senior volunteer service teams, with 3,604 new senior volunteers recruited and 1,068 volunteer activities held. The total number of registered senior volunteers has reached 440,000, encouraging and guiding the elderly to enjoy their old age.

"Next, we will deepen the reform and development of elderly care services, besides accelerating the construction of an elderly care service network covering urban and rural areas," Zeng said.

"We will coordinate the three types of elderly care services based at home, community, and institution levels, and promote the coordinated development of the elderly care industry, better ensuring that the elderly are cared for and allowing more elderly people to enjoy a happy old age," he added.

Looking ahead to the 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026-30), the province will focus on advancing the implementation of the national strategy to actively respond to population aging, while enhancing the levels of social assistance, social welfare, social affairs, and social governance.

"Population aging is a long-term fundamental national and provincial condition, which presents both challenges and opportunities for us," Li Jianhong said. "We will continue to contribute to the efforts of writing the Shanxi chapter of Chinese-style modernization with the strength of civil affairs."