According to a report by Lei Changxuan, the forum on "County-Town Community Environment Construction and Innovation in Elderly-Livable Environment Work" and the commendation meeting for Advanced Units in China’s Elderly-Livable Environment Construction, jointly organized by the Elderly-Livable Environment Committee of the China Association of Gerontology and the China Elderly-Livable Environment Development Alliance, were recently held in Beijing. Ninghai County in Zhejiang Province was awarded the title of "China's Livable and Tourism-Friendly City for the Elderly," while Shouning County in Fujian Province and Rushan City in Shandong Province were honored as "China's Livable Cities for the Elderly."
At the meeting, experts discussed the construction and improvement of public health, cultural entertainment, public transportation, and other community environments in elderly-livable settings. Advanced counties and towns in elderly-livable environment construction from various regions across the country also shared their experiences.
In recent years, Ninghai County has placed high importance on improving services for the elderly. When formulating its 13th Five-Year Plan, the county explicitly proposed establishing a relevant leading group and continuously refining the elderly care system.
Lin Jian, the County Chief of Ninghai, believes that the construction of an elderly-livable environment needs to integrate economic and ecological considerations, allowing the elderly to enjoy a livable environment while also experiencing a sense of gain. Lin noted that Ninghai’s uniquely superior environment lays a solid foundation for building a city suitable for the elderly.
It is understood that Ninghai boasts excellent resource and environmental conditions, with a sound ecological environment. It has been listed as one of the first "Zhejiang Province Pilot Counties for Beautiful County Towns" and has successfully been named a "National Demonstration County for Leisure Agriculture and Rural Tourism."
Lin Jian introduced that Ninghai has a relatively developed economy, providing strong financial support for the development of elderly-livable initiatives. Currently, the county has 20 elderly care institutions and has established over 400 regional home-based elderly care service centers and village (community) home-based elderly care service stations, achieving 100% coverage of home-based elderly care services. The subsidy standards for elderly allowances are the highest in Zhejiang Province, and the insurance participation rate for elderly care exceeds 90%.