Li Ailing (left) presents one half of a traditional couplet to a resident at the Xingfuhui community care center in Jinyuan district of Taiyuan, Shanxi province, before this year's Spring Festival. ZHU XINGXIN/CHINA DAILY
Last month, during the third session of the 14th Shanxi Provincial People's Congress, deputy Li Ailing expressed her dedication to assisting the growing elderly population.
"I am willing to dedicate the rest of my life to understanding every elderly person and to understanding our own aging selves," said Li, director and founder of Xingfuhui community elderly care service centers.
The 52-year-old's journey into the elderly care industry began in 2015 after she invested over 5 million yuan ($680,000), saved from 20 years of business ventures, to establish the first Xingfuhui community elderly care service center in Jincheng, Shanxi. It marked the beginning of a new model of community-based elderly care in the region.
However, the road was not without challenges. Despite the joy her center brought to the elderly in the city, Li faced significant operational difficulties.
"The investment was huge, the returns were slow and the responsibilities were endless," she said.
Many advised her to give up, but Li persevered, driven by her commitment to the cause.
Today, Xingfuhui has become a renowned brand in Shanxi's elderly care industry, attracting nationwide attention. Li has established 10 community elderly care centers across the province, serving over 50,000 elderly residents and providing employment for more than 600 people. "I hope our centers can make seniors feel at home. But we must not overstate our value, as our centers can never replace their families," Li said.
Senior residents display the Chinese character "fu" (meaning happiness) written on red paper at the center in Jinyuan district before Spring Festival. The paper can be pasted on doors as a New Year decoration. ZHU XINGXIN/CHINA DAILY
At Xingfuhui centers, every detail reflects care for the elderly. From more accessible plug sockets and segmented wardrobe designs to bedside railings, the centers are tailored to meet the needs of their residents. Daily activities include exercise sessions, massages and other entertainment activities, with special services offered during holidays and birthdays.
During this year's Chinese New Year celebrations, Xingfuhui's center in the Xincheng community in Taiyuan's Jinyuan district hosted a Spring Festival garden party and offered round-the-clock care for elderly residents with disabilities or dementia. Other services include emotional support, meal delivery, bathing assistance and free medical consultations.
Tan Lieying, a 94-year-old resident of the center, expressed her gratitude: "I feel the love and care from everyone here. The food is excellent, the staff are kind, and we have plenty of activities such as dancing and singing."
Li's dedication has not gone unnoticed. In 2023, she was elected as a deputy to the 14th Shanxi Provincial People's Congress.
"I founded the center to care for my parents," she said.
"But becoming a deputy has made me realize this is a mission and a responsibility — not just for my parents, but for all parents."
According to the National Bureau of Statistics, the number of people in China aged 60 and older last year reached 310 million, accounting for 22 percent of the population. Among them, 220 million were aged 65 and older. These figures underscore the rapid aging of China's society.
Senior residents enjoy a massage service at the Xingfuhui care center in Taiyuan's Yingze district. ZHU XINGXIN/CHINA DAILY
As China's aging population grows, so do the challenges, particularly in rural areas. During the Shanxi Provincial People's Congress, Li proposed measures to address elderly care issues in rural areas, including accelerating the construction of rural elderly care service networks, and piloting integrated medical and elderly care services in township hospitals and nursing homes.
Shanxi has been actively encouraging social forces to participate in the elderly care industry, with local brands such as Xingfuhui leading the way.
However, the quantity and quality of elderly care services still fall short of demand.
By the end of this year, Shanxi aims to establish 300 professional and standardized community elderly care service centers, said Ju Limei, deputy director of the Shanxi Provincial Department of Civil Affairs. As of 2023, Ju said, Shanxi's population aged 60 and above reached 7.5 million, accounting for 21.6 percent of the province's population.
According to a government work report delivered during the meeting, the Shanxi government has outlined plans to build 50 community elderly care projects and 50 regional elderly care service centers this year, in addition to renovating 100 standardized community canteens. These initiatives aim to provide elderly residents with accessible care and dining services close to home.
For Li, her mission is clear: "My goal is to ensure that the elderly can enjoy their later years with dignity."
Contact the writers at zhuxingxin@chinadaily.com.cn
