Elderly deserve better care and services

In his report to the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China on Oct 18, General Secretary Xi Jinping said China will adopt policies that will help foster a social environment in which senior citizens are respected, cared for and live happily. As part of that effort, senior citizens will receive integrated care and medical service, and the programs to provide better elderly care will be expedited.

Building a foolproof elderly care system is a huge and complicated project, which should take many factors into consideration such as the Chinese tradition of filial piety, socialized old-age care, and the various types of care needed by senior citizens of different age groups.

Studies show that "empty nest" senior citizens account for at least 50 percent of China's total elderly population, and the percentage is increasing. With an overwhelming majority of families having one child and the flow of migrant workers into cities, family and home-based old-age care is no longer possible for many.