Beijing approves first foundational and comprehensive regulation on elderly care

Beijing has passed its first foundational and comprehensive regulation on elderly care, set to take effect on July 1, local authorities said at a news conference on Thursday.

The Beijing elderly care services regulation was approved at the fourth session of the 16th Beijing Municipal People's Congress, which concluded on Thursday morning.

Comprising nine chapters and 77 articles, the regulation establishes a full institutional framework covering the full range of elderly care services. It outlines overarching principles, strengthens planning and facilities development, standardises elderly care models, improves support mechanisms, and introduces a comprehensive regulatory system.

A key highlight is the formal establishment of a three-tier elderly care network at district, sub-district (or township), and community (or village) levels. The aim is to create an inclusive, accessible and sustainable elderly care system covering both urban and rural areas.

Under the framework, district-level guidance centers will coordinate resources and provide strategic oversight, street and township centers will act as service hubs linking care provision with the elderly's needs, while community service stations will function as frontline outlets offering services such as daily care, meal services, and health guidance.

"This three-tier network is designed to form a well-coordinated and efficient service system, helping to address the last-mile challenge in elderly care," Tong Lizhi, head of the Beijing Municipal Civil Affairs Bureau, said.

"It will allow the seniors to access high-quality services close to home."

The regulation also contains a dedicated chapter on integrating medical and elderly care services. Measures include supporting medical facilities within care institutions, expanding insurance coverage, improving family doctor services, and providing home-based medical care for disabled elderly people.

The policy seeks to improve accessibility, convenience, and affordability of integrated medical and care services through closer coordination between healthcare providers and care institutions, said Xu Changshun, a senior official with the Beijing Municipal Health Commission.

The commission will collaborate with relevant departments to ensure effective implementation, bringing quality care services closer to the elderly, Xu added.

The regulation responds to the capital's rapid ageing trend. In 2014, Beijing had 5.14 million residents aged 60 and above, accounting for 23.5 percent of its population. The number is expected to exceed seven million by 2031, as the city faces an increasingly ageing population, authorities said.