Officials strive for quality elder care

Authorities are stepping up efforts to promote the healthy development of the elder care sector in China, officials said.

Li Yongxin, deputy director of the elder care service department at the Ministry of Civil Affairs, said during a news conference that the number of elderly care facilities in China had surged to around 410,000 by June, with 369,000 of them community-based. This represents a 100 percent increase in elderly care facilities and a 120 percent increase in community-based ones since 2019.

The expansion and a recent crackdown are part of a broader initiative to address the challenges posed by China's rapidly aging population and fraudulent practices in facilities designed to help seniors.