A Chinese political advisor recently called for the strengthening of care services for elderly people with disabilities and dementia, as China faces growing challenges in this area.

Zhang Jinying, a member of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC). [Photo provided to China.org.cn]

Zhang Jinying, a member of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), China's top political advisory body, pointed out that the country is now home to the largest population of older people in the world. According to estimates by the National Health Commission, the total population of people aged 60 and above in China is expected to exceed 300 million during the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-2025).

"When one person becomes disabled, the whole family loses balance," said Zhang, who is also a member of the Standing Committee of the Central Committee of the China Association for Promoting Democracy. "Disability and dementia can severely affect the physical and mental health of the elderly, reducing their quality of life and increasing their economic burden. Currently, the demand for health care among the elderly in China is becoming increasingly urgent. However, there are still issues such as an incomplete health care system for the elderly and the uneven and insufficient development of the eldercare industry, especially in terms of long-term care and eldercare for those with disabilities and dementia, which urgently need to be considered and addressed."

Existing problems include high pressure from family care coupled with insufficient medical support, as families of elderly with disabilities and dementia face heavy care responsibilities without adequate professional knowledge, leading to significant economic and mental strain, according to Zhang. Meanwhile, nursing homes provide only basic services at high costs, while public hospitals fail to address long-term care and medical needs. Additionally, there is a critical shortage of professional eldercare personnel, especially at the grassroots level. Based on an estimate of 40 million disabled elderly in China, the demand for nursing staff stands at around 10 million people, which increases further when including those with dementia. Furthermore, information about care resources is inadequate, and there is a pressing need for health education, including preventive measures and management of chronic diseases for the elderly.

Zhang is currently attending the second session of the 14th CPPCC National Committee, scheduled to take place from March 4-10 in Beijing. Her proposal summitted to the session suggested establishing a multi-level care service system led by the government to integrate hospitals, nursing homes, communities and families into a complete elderly care chain. It also included enhancing professional training for caregivers to provide specialized services for the elderly with dementia, encouraging educational institutions to offer elderly care and nursing programs, and boosting geriatric psychiatry skills among general practitioners, as well as nursing skills for caregivers and basic care knowledge for families.

In addition, she called for the creation of an information platform for care services. This would include resources, policies and regulations, and expert advice, to improve the convenience and accuracy with which the elderly and their families can obtain information, and to strengthen social support and publicity to reduce the stress on families of the elderly with disabilities and dementia.