Ageing mainland faces challenges

A nursing home located near a diplomatic area in Beijing cares for 26 people aged between 60 and 92.

"We have 26 beds. But it's far from being enough," said Liu Yuqin, the head of the Dongzhimen Street Senior Home, set up in 1986 in Dongcheng district. "Nearly 100 people applied for beds but left disappointed. We have to give priority to those who live nearby."

Inmates of the government-aided nursing home are charged 1,850 yuan (HK$2,300) a month for meals, utilities, bed space and other services. The cost is lower than that of many private institutions and is affordable for elderly residents of the capital city where the minimum wage was raised to 1,400 yuan a month this year.

"In this prosperous area, every inch of land is valued like gold. It's not easy to find a good nursing home here," said Liu, who has worked in the home for 13 years. "The local government is planning to expand the service to new sites, but no decision has been made yet."

According to a Xinhua report, welfare institutions in the district offer 1,500 beds for the care of seniors, well short of an estimated need of 8,000 beds.

The shortage is just one of many challenges facing the nation's rapidly ageing population.