Capital aiming for 208 new care centers for the elderly

Beijing is looking to establish 208 care centers for the elderly at community and township levels by next year, according to a civil affairs official.

Li Wanjun, head of the Beijing Bureau of Civil Affairs, said, "All the care centers combined will be able to cover the demand for services for the aged and fill the void of hospital beds at nursing homes."

The municipality had about 3 million people age 60 or above by the end of last year, or 22.5 percent of its registered population. This is a much higher rate than the national average of 15.5 percent.