The cause of aging in Liaoning Province develops steadily, orderly and healthily

During a press conference held by the Liaoning Provincial Government’s Information Office on October 17, Zhou Qiang, the Director of the Liaoning Provincial Department of Civil Affairs and Deputy Director of the Liaoning Aging Committee, emphasized the province’s commitment to enhancing the “Yikang Liaoyang, Enjoying Silver Age” service brand. Zhou noted the effort to construct an elderly-friendly society and highlighted the steady, orderly, and healthy development of elderly care initiatives across the province.

Zhou explained that population aging is a significant trend in societal development and will remain a defining characteristic of the country for the foreseeable future. As of the end of 2023, Liaoning Province had approximately 12.3 million residents aged 60 and older, accounting for 29.4% of the total population, with 8.81 million residents aged 65 and above, which constitutes 21.1%.

He further shared that the social security level in Liaoning has been continuously improving. By the end of 2023, around 21.5 million individuals were enrolled in the urban employee basic pension insurance, while 10.2 million participated in the rural and urban resident basic pension insurance. Additionally, 3,796 enterprises had established enterprise annuities, covering about 466,000 employees. Personal pension accounts had expanded to 1.862 million, with 37.2 million residents participating in basic medical insurance, resulting in 8.235 million patient visits for outpatient services and inpatient care across different locations. Moreover, around 462,000 elderly individuals benefited from assistance programs, such as minimum living guarantees and support for those in exceptional difficulties.

Zhou also highlighted the steady improvement in the quality of elder care services in Liaoning. The supply capacity for elderly care services has been enhanced, with policies in place to support the development of care institutions, including land, tax exemptions, and operational subsidies. The province secured investment for 13 new projects totaling approximately 271 million yuan. There are now 2,371 care facilities in the region, offering 212,400 beds. Community-based elderly care services expanded to 14,021 facilities, providing 49,500 additional beds; this has allowed seniors to access more convenient services, such as meal assistance, cleaning, mobility support, and bathing.

In addition to care services, Zhou mentioned that health service capabilities have also improved. Multiple departments collaborated to release the “Implementation Plan for Advancing Healthy Aging during the 14th Five-Year Plan,” focusing on enhancing geriatric departments in hospitals and establishing elderly-friendly medical institutions and palliative care services. The number of these institutions has risen to 1,473, with over 2,000 professionals trained annually to specialize in elderly health services. The province has also issued guidelines to facilitate the integration of healthcare and elderly care services.

Lastly, Zhou noted the deepening development of the “silver economy” in Liaoning, creating a more welcoming living environment for seniors. The province is fostering new service models that combine elderly care with various industries, including culture, tourism, and dining, which is resulting in a collaborative ecosystem where social initiatives support industry growth and vice versa.