China to Assess Elderly Care Needs and Boost Medical Caregiver Training Amid Rising Demand

Currently, China has nearly 250 million people aged 60 and above, with over 40 million elderly individuals experiencing disability, creating a substantial and rigid demand for professional medical and nursing care services.

Recently, the National Health Commission, in conjunction with relevant departments including the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security, the State Administration for Market Regulation, the China Banking and Insurance Regulatory Commission, and the National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, issued the Notice on Carrying Out Needs Assessment for Elderly Care and Standardizing Services and the Notice on Strengthening the Training and Standardized Management of Medical Caregivers.

Jiao Yahui, Deputy Director of the Medical Administration and Hospital Management Bureau under the National Health Commission, stated at a press conference today that the "Notice on Carrying Out Assessment of Long-Term Care Needs and Standardizing Service Delivery" focuses on the urgent medical and nursing care needs of 40 million elderly individuals with disabilities. The notice clarifies assessment criteria for long-term care needs, covering both functional status and the prevalence of common diseases among the elderly. It guides relevant medical institutions across various regions to effectively conduct assessments in accordance with these standards and to provide classified long-term care services based on the assessed needs.

Conduct assessments of long-term care needs for the elderly, covering scope of application, target populations, assessment criteria, levels of care needs, assessing institutions and personnel, and assessment requirements; specify standards for the provision of long-term care services for the elderly, including service providers and personnel, as well as service types and content; clarify measures to strengthen support and safeguards, including increasing effective supply, enhancing personnel training, innovating service delivery models, and improving payment and reimbursement mechanisms; and put forward requirements such as strengthening organizational leadership, encouraging pilot initiatives, intensifying regulatory oversight, and conducting timely summaries and evaluations.

“Notice on Strengthening the Training and Standardized Management of Medical Caregivers” primarily guides localities to accelerate the training of medical caregivers in accordance with the “Training Outline for Medical Caregivers,” so as to enhance professional skills, improve service quality, and expand social employment opportunities. The main contents include standardizing the implementation of medical caregiver training—covering the definition of medical caregivers, target trainees and eligibility criteria, and training management; strengthening standardized management of medical caregivers—including regulated recruitment, clarification of responsibilities, and enhanced oversight; and putting forward relevant requirements on strengthening organizational implementation, clarifying departmental division of responsibilities, and conducting timely summaries and evaluations.

Jiao Yahui stated that the National Health Commission will effectively implement policies and initiatives related to elderly care by conducting training, strengthening guidance, carrying out follow-up evaluations, and leveraging model demonstrations. Meanwhile, it will issue guideline and technical documents to strengthen elderly care work, increase the supply of elderly care services, and standardize service practices. The Commission will summarize the pilot experience of “Internet + Nursing Services” and gradually expand the scope of these pilots. It will also actively develop community- and home-based nursing services, providing appropriate in-home medical and nursing care to disabled, very elderly, or mobility-impaired seniors through mechanisms such as home hospital beds and contracted services.