China strengthens long-term care support for an aging population
Kong Xingyu (C), head of the Yefushan Town Elderly Care Service Center in Lujiang County, east China's Hefei Province, leads staff in providing daily care to residents with disabilities in a special care ward, October 18, 2026. (Photo: VCG)
As we age, everyday tasks like eating and bathing can become difficult. How can people who need long-term care maintain their quality of life and dignity?
China's long-term care insurance, known as the country's "sixth social insurance pillar," is helping address this challenge. Since pilot schemes began in 2016, it had covered nearly 300 million people and benefited more than 3.3 million by the end of 2025, reducing care costs by an average of around 12,000 yuan ( about $1,785) per beneficiary each year.
An elderly resident displays a peach-shaped longevity gift at the 7th Longevity Culture Festival in Yujiaxiahe Community, Qingdao City, east China's Shandong Province. (Photo: VCG)
With more than 45 million older people in China living with disabilities or dementia, the need for long-term care continues to grow. During the 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026–2030), China plans to expand long-term care pilot programs to a nationwide system, while improving care services and support for those who need them.
Elderly residents practice tai chi fan exercises in Guiyang City, southwest China's Guizhou Province. (Photo: VCG)
Long-term care is about more than meeting daily needs. It is about helping older people live with dignity, easing the burden on families and strengthening the social safety net as China responds to an aging population.