China will launch a nationwide elderly care service subsidy program in 2026, providing monthly digital vouchers for eligible disabled seniors.
China will begin a nationwide elderly care service subsidy program on January 1st, according to an official announcement on January 22nd. Under the program, seniors assessed as moderately or more severely disabled will be eligible for elderly care service consumption subsidies.
According to the notice, local governments are required to assess the size of their elderly populations and disability rates. Based on these factors, they should evaluate staffing needs and develop training plans for elderly ability assessors.
In addition, assessors must be trained to apply the national standard “Specification for Assessing the Abilities of Elderly Individuals” (GB/T42195-2022). Local assessment standards currently in use should be aligned with the national standard to meet concentrated assessment demand.
Starting January 1st this year, seniors assessed as moderately, severely, or completely disabled can apply for monthly elderly care service subsidies through the “Minzhengtong” platform, including its mobile app and mini-program.
The maximum monthly subsidy is 800 yuan. The subsidies are issued in the form of digital consumption vouchers. Home-based care vouchers can cover up to 50 per cent of service costs, while institutional care vouchers can cover up to 40 per cent.
The vouchers can be used for home-based, community-based, and institutional elderly care services. These services include meal assistance, bathing assistance, housekeeping, mobility support, emergency assistance, medical assistance, rehabilitation nursing, and daytime care services.
Pilot programs conducted in multiple regions
The elderly care subsidy program was first launched on a pilot basis in July last year.
The pilot programs were carried out in Zhejiang and Shandong provinces, Chongqing Municipality, as well as in Shenyang in Liaoning Province, Chuzhou in Anhui Province, Xinyu in Jiangxi Province, and Chengdu in Sichuan Province.
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