China eyes better elder care by 2020

China is aiming to improve public services for its elderly population by 2020, according to a government plan unveiled Monday.

“The country targets a multipillar, fairer and more sustainable social security system by 2020 to better meet the needs of the elderly,” said the plan released by the State Council.

It set goals ensuring 90 per cent residents will be covered by basic old-age insurance and for coverage of basic medical insurance to stay above 95 per cent.

Medical and rehabilitation services for rural elderly care will be strengthened, according to the plan. By 2020, government nursing homes should account at least 30 per cent of the nation’s total nursing beds for the elderly, and a long-term nursing insurance system will be considered. Efforts should be made to supply more technology products tailored for the elderly people, and to enrich their cultural life. It estimates that the number of people aged over 60 in China will reach 255 million, 17.8 per cent of the country’s total population, by 2020.

China had 220 million people aged over 60 at the end of 2015, accounting for 16.1 per cent of the total population. Elderly care services are far from sufficient across the country. and there were just 30.3 nursing home beds per 1,000 elderly people in 2015.