Shandong county works to improve nursing for elderly

An elderly woman undergoes a physical examination at a health center in Qihe. [Photo by Liu Lei for chinadaily.com.cn]

Qihe county in Dezhou, East China's Shandong province, has since last year been exploring an integrated service model of medical care and nursing for elderly people, reforming conventional nursing for elderly people.

Elderly people entertain themselves at a nursing home in Qihe. [Photo by Liu Lei for chinadaily.com.cn]

Resources at health centers, nursing homes, and medical and healthcare groups are being utilized to allow seniors living at nursing homes to enjoy healthcare services at health centers, according to Liu Chengfen, deputy director of Qihe's health bureau.

All the health centers at the township level have entered local nursing institutions for the elderly into the official records and have been certified as designated service agencies for long-term care insurance. The nursing homes in towns are all operated by local health centers.

A health care service center for elderly people in Qihe. [Photo by Liu Lei for chinadaily.com.cn]

To further improve local healthcare services, Qihe has invested more than 90 million yuan ($12.63 million) in updating the medical equipment at health centers in towns.

The county has also established 400 well-equipped clinics in rural areas for local doctors, giving locals access to a doctor within a 15-minute trip. (Edited by Gong Jun)