Photo: VCG

China recently scrapped requiring formal education for people seeking to be certified as senior caregivers. Previously, those seeking certificates had to have attended at least junior high school.

China has a population of 249 million people aged 60 or older, with 40 million of them being disabled or semi-disabled. However, there are only 300,000 professional senior caregivers, reflecting a huge gap between demand and supply, according to data from China’s Ministry of Civil Affairs. Worse, China's elderly care services industry is also plagued by the high turnover rates and the fact that most of the caregivers are not qualified.

Arduous daily tasks, low wages and inadequate social acceptance contribute to the shortage. Senior caregivers’ daily work do not only include assistance in keeping up with seniors’ daily personal hygiene routine, but also meal planning, medical and psychological support and companionship. All of these require professionalism, patience and love. 

Experts also called for more tuition exemptions and subsidies for students majoring in elderly care as well as broader cooperation between schools and employers.

（Compiled by Shen Feng）