Tibet to offer centralized nursing care for impoverished elders

The Tibet autonomous region is providing centralized nursing service for elders suffering from illness and in extreme poverty, Tibet Daily reported.

During the 13th Five-Year Plan period (2016-20), more than 230 million yuan ($36 million) had been spent for the construction of the region's centralized nursing centers.

Twenty-eight nursing centers underwent reconstruction, expansion, maintenance, and renovation. The centers are equipped with oxygen supply, heating and fire control facilities and an ecological sunshine room.

Over the last five years, there were over 10,700 beds in the region's 88 nursing centers. More than 6,600 elders needing medical attention but with financial difficulties were provided homes in those centers.

During the period, more than 1 billion yuan were spent on the support and operation of the centers' nursing care. The annual subsidy for elders who received nursing care was increased from 9,984 yuan per person in 2016 to 14,196 yuan per person in 2021, an increase of 70 percent.

According to the data of the seventh national census, 401,600 people in the region aged 50 to 59, accounting for more than 11 percent of the region's total population.

The region has 310,800 elderly people over the age of 60, accounting for 8.52 percent of its total population.