China-Elderly Care/Measures

Shotlist

Beijing, China – Recent (CCTV – No access Chinese mainland)
1. Various of residential building
2. Various of resident’s house, facilities
3. SOUNDBITE (Chinese) Zhang Tianxiang, local resident (starting with shot 2):
“I need these facilities because I’m old, and it would be terrible if I fall and couldn’t get up.”
4. Various of elder-friendly facilities
5. Various of elderly people

Changxing County, Huzhou City, Zhejiang Province, east China – Recent (CCTV – No access Chinese mainland)
6. Various of community worker helping elderly people getting food
7. Various of elderly people dining
8. SOUNDBITE (Chinese) Local resident (name not given) (partially overlaid with shot 9):
“This place is very good in every way. I’m satisfied with the food, and the environment is clean.”
++SHOT OVERLAYING SOUNDBITE++
9. Food
++SHOT OVERLAYING SOUNDBITE++
10. Various of hairdressing room
11. Video room
12. Sign reading painting and calligraphy room
13. Various of painting, books

Storyline

Chinese cities are taking measures to improve home-based services for the aged so as to meet the health, wellness needs for elderly people.

According to data released by the National Health Commission, about 90 percent of elderly people choose home care. However, some of them are lack of supportive facilities in their houses.

Zhang Tianxiang and his wife are now living in Beijing after they retired. Their children are married and live elsewhere.

Zhang was injured when he took a shower because his home was not equipped with safety devices such as handrails suitable for the elderly.

After that, Zhang installed armrest in the toilet to prevent injuries.

“I need these facilities because I’m old, and it would be terrible if I fall and couldn’t get up,” said Zhang.

According to the data provided by the China Association of Gerontology and Geriatrics, there are about 60,000 kinds of geriatric products in the international market, while there are only about 4,000 kinds in China.

Therefore, the market demand for elderly products is huge given the large population of the elderly.

In order to promote the development of the home-based care market, local government and related industries are exploring new ways to benefit the elderly.

In Changxing County of Huzhou City, east China’s Zhejiang Province, a home care service center was serving lunch for the elderly living there.

“This place is very good in every way. I’m satisfied with the food, and the environment is clean,” said a man in the center.

In addition to catering services, there is also a video room, painting room, hairdressing room, book corners and others in the center, which can meet both the spiritual and cultural needs of the elderly.

China now is working to build a standardized home-based elderly care service network in communities, establish or renovate state-run senior care service institutions, and support medical institutions to combine elderly care with medical treatment.