East China’s Jiangsu province has taken multiple measures in recent years to encourage the elderly to participate in social governance, enrich the spiritual and cultural life, and promote the construction of an elderly-friendly society, so that the elderly can enjoy a happy life in their later years.
At eleven o'clock at noon, the volunteers of a meal provider in the Shuixiu Community of Binhu District, Wuxi were delivering meals to the elders within the vicinity.
A volunteer team composed of elderly people in the community who are around 60 years old are responsible for delivering meals to the elderly, and also help the elders to buy necessities.
At noon every day, 66-year-old Gu Qiuxian would deliver lunch to Lu Xiuxian, an elderly woman living on the third floor.
Grandma Lu couldn't walk due to old age. In addition to delivering meals, the volunteers also helped her fetch medicine and buy daily necessities once in every three days.
Lu Xiuxian, a Citizen of Wuxi
Built in the late 1980s, Wuxi Shuixiu Community has a permanent population of more than 14 thousand people, 30% of whom are elderly.
In 2019, the community launched the Neighborhood Watch project, attracting more and more silver-haired volunteers to bring full play to their expertise to help older seniors.
Hua Shuhong, Citizen of Wuxi,65-year-old
The community has specially developed a reward point calculation system to help elderly volunteers record the length of service and exchange accumulated points for goods and services.
With the rapid development of information technology, the elderly are also entitled to sharing the digital dividend.
The General Office of the Provincial Government issued the "List of Key Tasks to Effectively Solve the Difficulties for the Elderly in Using Intelligent Technology" to help the elderly bridge the digital divide and provide smart phone course training for the elderly through senior universities and social organizations.
Various localities are also promoting the sharing of intelligent and convenient services for the elderly. The government affairs hall in Siyang County have provided considerate and meticulous services for the elderly through measures such as full assistance, green channels, and supporting facilities for the elderly.
Institutional innovation is accelerating, the service system is improving, as is evidenced by continuous introduction of policies that stimulate the vitality of the elderly.
During the "14th Five-Year Plan" period, Jiangsu will transform 100 thousand elderly families to adapt to the needs of the elderly, build pilot nursing communities, and gradually establish a system of social preferential treatment for the elderly.
Ye Xiangyu, Deputy Director, Elderly Service Division, Department of Civil Affairs, Jiangsu Province
