China has announced sweeping measures to address its aging population, with Minister of Civil Affairs Lu Zhiyuan outlining a five-year roadmap to modernize elderly care services during a March 7 press conference at the National People's Congress session. The plan focuses on expanding accessibility, improving service quality, and integrating technology into senior care systems.
Key achievements highlighted include the establishment of 80,000 meal assistance centers and 495,000 home-based care beds nationwide since 2021. Over 2.24 million households with vulnerable seniors have received accessibility upgrades through China's elderly-friendly renovation program.
New for 2026, the government will introduce care vouchers specifically for seniors with moderate to severe functional impairments. Minister Lu emphasized that 'the next five years will see concentrated efforts to build county-to-village service networks and upgrade care facility equipment nationwide.'
The strategy includes specialized training programs for caregivers and development of assistive technologies, positioning China's elderly care sector as both a social priority and emerging economic opportunity. These developments come as China's 60+ population is projected to reach 500 million by 2030.
