Wuxi pioneers elderly care services

Smart devices are used in Wuxi's elder-care centers. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Wuxi -- in eastern China's Jiangsu province -- is one of the first batch of cities in China facing a serious aging problem.

By 2030, the city is projected to have 1.6 million senior citizens, 35 percent of its population, compared with only 10 percent in 1983.

The city has made various efforts to tackle its graying problem and because of its achievements, it has been designated as one of the pilot cities in China's elder-care services reform.

In 2006, public transportation became free for all local seniors. The city also built many nursing homes and public facilities to improve elder care.

Today, Wuxi has 162 elder-care centers serving more than 40,000 people. It has given up to 800 yuan ($116) in monthly subsidies to elder-care medical workers.

In May 2015, the city released its first regulation to regularize elder-care centers.

"All of our work abides by the rules," said Wu Xiaping, director of the Binhu social welfare center.

"Their families should still take responsibilities in an emergency," Wu said.

"Moreover, assessors re-graded the elderly according to their physical condition, living ability, language ability and mental condition," Wu added.

The regulations mainly address the standardization of the operation and management of elder-care centers, guarantees the legitimate rights and interests of the elderly and centers -- in order to promote elder-care services.

Wuxi was also chosen to pilot elderly care services by the National Development and Reform Commission.