A package of measures designed to improve care for the elderly has been introduced in Zhejiang province. The proposals are contained in the Zhejiang Province Social Old-Age Care Service Improvement Regulation. The plans were discussed at the annual session of the 12th Zhejiang Provincial People's Congress and approved on Sunday. The meeting of representatives from across the province was held from Wednesday to Sunday. The regulation will give the province legal powers to categorize different types of care services, and requires communities to establish sufficient facilities for the elderly. Colleges and technical schools will also be asked to set up courses to train specialist care workers. The regulation will also establish a framework for the provision of subsidies for care centers. Wang Yongchang, deputy director of the Standing Committee of the Zhejiang Provincial People's Congress, said the regulation is intended to solve problems in the industry that the current system fails to address. "We face problems with poor care services and a lack of legal support for privately owned care centers. The regulation will deal with these questions," he said. The regulation will encourage the use of private capital to develop the industry. 

Zhejiang faces severe challenges because of its aging population. At the end of last year . . . . read more