Housing has become a hot topic again, but this time it is about housing as a means to make life more comfortable for the elderly.

As one of the ways to ease the financial pressure of an aging society and support the increasing number of senior residents, a pilot houses-for-pensions plan will likely be released next year according to a State Council document released on Friday.

With the number of residents above the age of 60 reaching 194 million by the end of 2012 and likely to exceed 300 million by 2025, China must develop a long-term plan to help the nearly 20 percent of its residents who will rely on pensions to lead a comfortable and decent life in the decades to come.