Experts call for easier access to social services

While many seniors are struggling to adapt to the rise of the internet, experts have said it is important to guarantee that elderly people without the latest technology can also access services.

"If elderly residents feel it is too difficult to learn the necessary skills to access services via smartphone apps, the government should provide adequate services offline to ensure that their lives are not compromised by a lack of modern technology," said Zhou Haiwang, deputy director of the Institute of Population and Development at the Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences.

Shanghai, which has the oldest population in the country, is taking the lead in this respect, and elderly residents generally feel that they are receiving better social care and welfare than ever before, experts said.