Nursing home problems most severe for middle-income seniors

Less than 20 percent of nursing homes in China's major cities are profitable, and homes for middle-income seniors fall far short of what is needed, according to a report released on Thursday by the China Research Center on Aging.

The report, which looked at the development of nursing homes, was based on information collected last year from civil affairs authorities and questionnaires submitted by 257 nursing homes in 12 major cities, including Tianjin and Chongqing.

The number of beds provided by various types of nursing homes in China exceeded 5.5 million at the end of last year. That's 26 beds for every 1,000 people 60 years old or above, the report said.