According to data from the National Bureau of Statistics, as of the end of 2023, individuals aged 60 and above in China comprised 21.1% of the national population, with approximately one-fifth being disabled or suffering from dementia, totaling around 50 million people.

This makes China the country with the largest elderly population globally. The care needs of disabled elderly individuals, the familial caregiving pressure, and the shortage of professional caregivers have emerged as pressing issues within China's elderly care service system.

During this year's session of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), members of the CPPCC also proposed solutions to address these challenges.

Approaches to elderly care

Zhang Jinying, a member of the National Committee of the CPPCC and also a member of the Standing Committee of the Democratic Progressive Party Central Committee, highlighted that the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021–2025) for National Health aims to achieve an average life expectancy of 80 years or more by 2035. As life expectancy increases, living with illness may become increasingly common. Disability, including dementia, represents a unique challenge for the elderly population.

However, China still grapples with issues such as an incomplete elderly healthcare system and an imbalanced, inadequate development of the elderly care industry. This is particularly evident in the long-term care and support for disabled and dementia-afflicted elderly individuals, demanding urgent attention and resolution.