Investment has been increased in taking care of the elderly in Shanghai, likely to become the first city in the country with an ageing population.

The city's more than 2.5 million elderly people, aged 60 and over, have benefited from a welfare program launched three years ago, in which more than 1.5 billion yuan (US$180 million) was invested by the end of this May.

Welfare scheme

"It is by far the biggest welfare scheme with the most investment and covering the largest proportion, and achieves the best results," said Vice-Mayor Zhou Taitong.

The city's senior citizens accounted for 18.98 percent of its total population at the end of last year.

This figure will rise to 20 percent in next year and 33 percent in 2020, seriously challenging the city's economic and social development, experts said.

The sale of lottery tickets accounts for 10 percent of this investment and the remainder comes from public donations.

"The construction of the Starlight Program has been completed, and we will shift our future focus on its operation, management and application," said Zhou.

A certain amount of money will continue to be invested in the program annually to ensure all its projects are carried out, according to Zhou.

The nationwide welfare scheme for the country's large elderly population was initiated in 2001 by the Ministry of Civil Affairs. It has resulted in an overall improvement in local welfare facilities.

An additional 350,000 square meters of activity centers have been constructed, with the renovation and expansion of some 185 old people's homes, and the establishment of 83 more day care centers in Shanghai in the past three years.

"Welfare houses are now available in every community, village and town," said Xu Ling, director of the Shanghai Civil Affairs Bureau.

Senior citizens

In addition, the government has paid for more than 140,000 senior citizens to get home services.

"These free home services have provided employment for many local unemployed people," said Xu.

And a personal alarm system has been extended to the homes of 24,000 elderly people.

"The machine installed in their homes connects them to our platform, and we then help them get what they want," said Chen Ni from Shanghai Home Care Services Co Ltd, a government-owned company.

"All they need to do is to push a button on the machine."

The home care system consists of a team who answer calls and coordinate assistance and services.

"We charge for the installation of the machine and services, but will reduce it even to zero in certain situations," said Chen.

Since it was established in May 2001, the system has handled more than 80,000 service calls and settled more than 1,000 calls for medical aid, fire alarm, or emergencies.

(China Daily October 12, 2004)