An elderly woman receives a haircut at a silver service station located in a CenturyMart Zhonghuan store in Shanghai's Putuo district. [Photo/eastday.com]

Shanghai has increased the minimum monthly elderly care insurance from 1,300 yuan ($179.6) to 1,400 yuan, as outlined in the city's updated basic elderly care service list, as part of its efforts to enhance fundamental care services.

The 2024 edition of Shanghai's basic elderly care services list encompasses 24 projects across eight categories, featuring significant changes such as elevated minimum basic elderly insurance and revised support standards for economically disadvantaged elderly individuals.

With a population exceeding 24 million, Shanghai is grappling with an increasingly aging population. By the end of 2022, among the city's over 15 million registered residents, the population of individuals aged 60 and above approached 5.54 million, constituting 36.8 percent of the total. This figure is anticipated to rise to 40 percent by the end of 2025, according to estimates in the Shanghai Blue Book: Shanghai Social Development Report (2022).

In response to Shanghai's rapidly aging population, supermarkets, and hypermarkets in the city have begun introducing tailored elderly care service platforms known as "silver service stations". These stations offer services such as self-service blood pressure measurements, free wheelchair rentals, and complimentary drinking water, designed to meet the needs of senior citizens.

Developed in collaboration with community committees and affiliated enterprises, this initiative aims to improve the daily living experiences of the elderly, particularly in densely populated areas, by establishing silver service stations in supermarkets and integrating farmers' markets into communities.

Lianhua, also known as CenturyMart, intends to establish 30 silver service stations this year and gradually expand to nearly 400 stores across 16 districts over the next five years, as stated by the supermarket operator. The first station, located in CenturyMart Zhonghuan store in Putuo district, caters to approximately 1,122 households, with the elderly population accounting for 46 percent.

Source: Jiefang Daily, eastday.com