As China's aging population grows, so do the challenges, particularly in rural areas. During the Shanxi Provincial People's Congress, Li proposed measures to address elderly care issues in rural areas, including accelerating the construction of rural elderly care service networks, and piloting integrated medical and elderly care services in township hospitals and nursing homes.

Shanxi has been actively encouraging social forces to participate in the elderly care industry, with local brands such as Xingfuhui leading the way.

However, the quantity and quality of elderly care services still fall short of demand.

By the end of this year, Shanxi aims to establish 300 professional and standardized community elderly care service centers, said Ju Limei, deputy director of the Shanxi Provincial Department of Civil Affairs. As of 2023, Ju said, Shanxi's population aged 60 and above reached 7.5 million, accounting for 21.6 percent of the province's population.

According to a government work report delivered during the meeting, the Shanxi government has outlined plans to build 50 community elderly care projects and 50 regional elderly care service centers this year, in addition to renovating 100 standardized community canteens. These initiatives aim to provide elderly residents with accessible care and dining services close to home.

For Li, her mission is clear: "My goal is to ensure that the elderly can enjoy their later years with dignity."

Contact the writers at [email protected]