Faced with an aging population, China has paid increasing attention to elderly care, especially during the concluded Two Sessions. "Elderly care" was mentioned 14 times in Premier Li Keqiang's government work report.

The number of Chinese aged above 60 rose to 222 million in 2015, accounting for 16.1% of the country's population. With the coming five years set to see fast growth in the senior population, it's worth examining the current status and development trend of elderly care services against increasingly complex demands.

In 2013, the government clearly encouraged development of the domestic elderly care service industry and especially supported the private sector to run related facilities.

"State-run nursing homes are to focus on the most needy groups, including those in low-income families who are over 80 years old, disabled, lost their only child or receive favorable benefits," said Li Dexuan, dean of the only government run nursing home in Haidian District, Beijing. "Others who still need services shall be received by private nursing homes."

He added that employees at state-run nursery homes get 50 percent of their salaries from the government with no bed subsidy, which is provided at private homes.

China is paying great attention to development of its care industry with "relevant policies released almost every month," said Wang Xiaolong, manager of a private nursing home in Beijing's Chaoyang District. "All newly-built residential complexes are required to specially equip facilities that cover an average 0.1 square meters for each elderly resident, while old equivalents receive government funds to make them more user-friendly. Such initiatives provide a good condition for privatization of the elderly care service industry."

Considering upcoming challenges, the government or family alone is far from able to meet increasingly complex needs of elderly care. More and more private participants will be invited into this field.

Wang said that the government would serve the most vulnerable and improve infrastructure and policies concerning elderly care. As the secondary and third players, market-oriented services will be offered to those that can afford them while families play their part accordingly. Volunteers could also contribute to help elders by participating in various activates.

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