Elderly care in Hechi reaches new stage

A newly released report from Hechi city in Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region has noted great improvements in the care of the elderly in the city due to pension reforms first rolled out in 2015 and other initiatives.

Places like Minsheng Xingfu Home went into operation in April 2016 under a new pension scheme "constructed by the government and operated by the private, a combination of medical treatment and endowment". Aiming to satisfy any special medical needs and improve the quality of life for elderly people, it represents an adaptation to the reality of an ageing population, said one employee working in the Hechi Municipal Civil Affairs Bureau. Additionally, the new scheme has proved to be an effective way to relieve financial and mental burdens from the elderly and their children.

The new pension system integrates medical care, elderly care and recovery, opening green channels for medical treatment by signing medical cooperation agreements with hospitals in a  combination of health care and endowment.

Dahua, selected as one of the pilot counties in Hechi, took the lead in carrying out the new pension scheme at the end of 2015. Another pilot county, Du'an Yao autonomous county, officially launched its pilot project in 2017, planning to construct apartments for the elderly and create health recovery centers and ecological planting bases, giving great impetus to the city's high-end elderly care industry.

An officer from the social welfare branch stated that Hechi city is expected to expand the scope of the pilot area, providing more services for elder residents in the coming years, adding that the city will continue to introduce more favorable policies to encourage local governments at all levels to set up nursing homes and other facilities for the elderly.