A conference on promoting combined medical and elder care services was held on July 13 and 14 in Beijing. [Photo/provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

China will further advance the integration of medical care and elder care services, introducing relevant regulations and standards. 

A conference on the intended integration was held from July 13 to 14 in Beijing. Yang Aiping, director of the Capacity Building and Continuing Education Center, National Health and Family Planning Commission, addressed the conference. 

Zhen Bingliang, an official with the Social Welfare Center of the Ministry of Civil Affairs, detailed the practice and problems of the planned integration at the conference.

From the perspective of services, nursing institutions for the aged are more open to senior citizens who can largely take care of themselves than to those who cannot, said Zhen.

Zhen Bingliang, an official with the Social Welfare Center of the Ministry of Civil Affairs, makes a speech at the conference. [Photo/provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Home-based care and community services for the aged lack behind elder-care institutions, added Zhen.

"Even though governments of different levels have built day care facilities, yet the 'sense of gain' of those elderly living at home is not strong," said Zhen.

Zhou Wei, a researcher with the National Health and Family Planning Commission, said that promoting the integration of medical care and elder care services needs the participation of various sectors.

She used Shanghai, Beijing and Qingdao as examples of how different places integrate resources across sectors to achieve care goals.

"As for the elder care service, some social forces are needed under the professional guidance of the local community," said Zhou, referring to the typical experience of Qufu, Shangdong province.

Japan's experience in medical care and elder care service was also brought up at the conference. Sintaro Nakamura, a senior consultant of the Japan International Cooperation Agency, shared about the experience in Japan.  

The meeting attracted over 300 health officials, medical experts and staff members from nursing institution for the aged.