Rising population

There are 264 million people on the Chinese mainland who are 60 or older, accounting for 18.7 percent of the total population, according to the National Bureau of Statistics, and the number is expected to surpass 300 million by 2025.

The number of frail seniors over the age of 60 who experience difficulty in performing everyday tasks passed 42 million in 2020, according to the National Working Commission on Aging, meaning that one in six people who were 60 or older were unable to take care of themselves.

Since the start of last year, Liu Shanshan has worked as a medical guide after finding that many seniors were struggling to find their way around hospitals in Shenyang, capital of Liaoning province.

She noticed the problem when a distant relative from outside the city arrived on her own to seek medical treatment.

"The elderly are not familiar with hospital procedures, especially those who have just arrived in the city unaccompanied by their children," Liu said.

She also noticed that many elderly patients besieged reception desks, asking how to download hospital software, make registrations and print medical records.

Many younger family members unable to accompany their parents to hospitals have sought help from Liu's service online.

Some seniors faced emergencies in the middle of the night, when their children were not around. The children are often either overseas or unable to get off work in time to help their parents.

After contacting a client's child, Liu obtains the medical records needed for a hospital visit. She accompanies her clients from the moment they leave home, and prepares emergency medical supplies for them, which she carries in her backpack.

At the hospital, Liu consults a doctor about a client's needs, carefully taking note of the advice given before passing it on to the customer's family members.

"To be professional, you have to be meticulous with the details. The bigger a hospital is, the more patients there will be, and the more complex the procedure," Liu said.

She said it can take all morning visiting various departments to wait in line for registration, a doctor's diagnosis, blood tests and CT scans.

This physically demanding experience means that the work of Liu and others is essential for many seniors.

Liu also studies in advance the medical procedures her clients need to undergo.

"They have to avoid urinating before an ultrasound examination, taking medicine before an examination of the upper gastrointestinal tract, and eating before a blood test," she said, adding that elderly patients have to be reminded to bring their ID and medical insurance cards to the hospital.

A year's experience means that Liu can now complete the entire hospital process in two hours.

She thinks that the key to her work is being caring, patient and responsible. Sometimes, she is tasked with acting as a friend of clients' children, who fear their parents will be reluctant to use Liu's service, as they are unwilling to spend their money.

Liu hopes the market for senior medical care will develop in an open and healthy manner, and that she will be able to help add value to her trade.

To address the aging population, the State Council has released a development plan for China's elderly care services during the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-25).

The plan specifies major goals and tasks, including expanding the supply of elderly care services, improving health support for seniors, and advancing the innovative and integrated development of service models.

To mobilize society in actively responding to the aging population, the plan lists nine key indicators, such as the number of care beds and the proportion of nursing care beds in care institutions.

Detailed tasks include strengthening the "safety net "for services for the elderly, expanding coverage of inclusive services, developing the "silver economy", and safeguarding the legitimate interests of the aging population.

According to the plan, China should give full play to state and social capital in expanding the domestic market, and create systematic, integrated policies to ensure the sound and sustainable development of the silver economy.

Good listener

Last year, Tang Bo resigned from his job at a State-owned company to join Li Minhua's team in Beijing.

The 38-year-old, who was raised by his grandparents, carries elderly clients to the bath. He has gained an affinity for seniors and enjoys helping them. For example, he is good at communicating with the elderly during the bathing process.

"Most of them are lonely, and they are happy when I listen to their stories from the past," said Tang, who was touched when an elderly client with Alzheimer's disease remembered his name after Tang had assisted him four or five times.

Every time Tang sees elderly clients smile at him after he bathes them and receives recognition from their family members, he said he gains a strong sense of his work's social value.

"Unfortunately, my grandparents are gone. If they were still alive, I would certainly give them a bath in person," he said with a touch of regret.

yangfeiyue@chinadaily.com.cn