New proposals for care of the elderly

The government is looking at ways to relieve the stresses on the elderly and their relativesas China faces the challenge of an aging population, as Shan Juan reports.

China is considering introducing a government-backed, long-term insurance program to provide high-quality, sustainable care for elderly people who are prevented from living independently by illness or disability, according to Du Peng, director of the Institute of Gerontology under Renmin University of China.

Du, who is close to senior decision makers, said: "To cover as many people as possible, the policy needs to be compulsory and held by the government, in the same way that China's health insurance works."