Services for the aged

WHETHER CHINA CAN TAKE CARE OF ITS SENIOR citizens in the near future will have an effect on the sustainability of its long-term development.The number of people above the age of 60 totaled 177 million at the end of 2010, over 13 percent of the total population. This is an increase of almost 3 percentage points compared with a decade ago, and the figure is expected to rise to 216 million by 2015, accounting for 16 percent of the total population.

Little wonder that the government work report this year highlighted that services need to be developed for aged residents.

The growing elderly population is only a burden on society if it is regarded as such and society will fail to tap their consumption potential if they are forced to spend their remaining years at home.