The report of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China emphasized the need to "implement a national strategy to actively respond to population aging," "develop elderly care programs and industries, optimize services for elderly people living alone," and "promote the realization that all elderly people have access to basic elderly care services."

Xuzhou, as a central city in the Huaihai Economic Zone, entered the aging stage relatively early, characterized by a large base, rapid growth, a high proportion of elderly people, and a severe empty-nest population.

In recent years, the municipal Party Committee and government have focused on elderly care issues, focusing on developing elderly care programs and industries. They have identified elderly care services as a crucial link between high-quality economic development, high-quality lives for the people, and efficient social governance. Progress has been made in ensuring elderly care, medical care, opportunities for employment, education, and entertainment, laying a solid foundation for actively responding to population aging. Starting this week, this newspaper will focus on Xuzhou's efforts to build a multi-layered, comprehensive basic elderly care service guarantee system and promote high-quality development of all aspects of elderly care services.

Elderly care services are crucial to the well-being of the elderly and their families and are one of the most crucial components of the people's livelihood security system. Since the beginning of this year, various regions in Xuzhou have prioritized elderly care services as a public welfare project, continuously improving infrastructure and services. They are promoting a combination of home, community, and institutional care, ensuring that seniors receive both practical care and financial security, comprehensively enhancing their well-being in their twilight years.

Jiawang District

Four-Star Elderly Care Services Support a Happy Life for the Silver Age

"You are my little apple. I can never love you enough. Your rosy little face warms my heart and ignites the fire of my life, fiery, fiery, fiery..." At a little after 9 a.m. on June 6th, at the Dawu Subdistrict Elderly Care Service Center in Xiaowu Village, a National Civilized Village in Jiawang District, more than a dozen elderly people were exercising to the rhythm of the song "Little Apple," waving their arms and chatting and laughing. "We're all so happy here!" said elderly Gao Meiling cheerfully.

"Every morning at 8 a.m., our nursing staff monitor the elderly's health indicators, and at 9 a.m., we all do morning exercises and sing revolutionary songs together," said Dong Guangxue, head of the Dawu Subdistrict Elderly Care Service Center.